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CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Pitching Shines in 5-0 Shutout of 66ers

April 21, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE, CA - Nick Vander Tuig, Martin Agosta and Mason McVay combined on a four-hit shutout while the Giants broke open a close game with a four-run bottom of the eighth in a 5-0 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers on Monday evening at Municipal Stadium. The series-opening win for San Jose (4-8) snaps their three-game losing streak.

Jesus Galindo (2-for-4, RBI, 2 SB) had a pair of hits, including a go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, to lead the Giants offensively. Rafael Rodriguez (1-for-4, 2 RBI) added a key two-run single during the eighth inning rally.

Vander Tuig, who was making his first start of the season, excelled on the mound for San Jose tossing five scoreless innings with just one hit allowed. Vander Tuig struck out four and walked none during his 46-pitch performance.

The only batter to reach base against Vander Tuig was Bo Way's leadoff infield single in the top of the first. Vander Tuig though induced the next hitter, Roberto Baldoquin, to ground into a double play and then didn't allow another Sixers hitter to reach base for the remainder of his outing. Vander Tuig retired the last 14 batters he faced. He threw fewer than 10 pitches in four out of his five innings.

After Agosta worked around a two-out error in the top of the sixth - Inland Empire's first baserunner since the first inning - the Giants rallied in the bottom of the frame. With the game still scoreless, John Polonius led off with a bunt single. After Ryan Lollis struck out, Polonius stole second and then scored the first run of the night when Galindo grounded a single up the middle.

Agosta returned to the mound in the top of the seventh and surrendered a leadoff single to Baldoquin, but recovered to set down the next three batters on a combined five pitches to retire the side.

In the top of the eighth, with the score still 1-0, McVay gave up a one-out single to Brandon Bayardi as the 66ers put the tying run on base. Mark Shannon was up next and he hammered a deep fly ball to right, but Lollis made a spectacular leaping catch on the warning track for the second out. Matt Koch then blooped a single into shallow right to put runners on the corners, but McVay came back to set down Way on a grounder to second to end the threat.

The Giants then sent all nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the eighth scoring four runs on three hits to extend their lead to 5-0. Brandon Bednar led off with a line drive single to center before a one-out walk to Lollis. Galindo then reached on an infield single and when first baseman Eric Aguilera flipped the ball wildly to reliever Brian Loconsole, who was covering first, for an error, Bednar raced home to make it 2-0. Galindo promptly stole second leading to an intentional walk of Ryder Jones which loaded the bases before Ben Turner walked on four pitches forcing home Lollis with the second run of the inning. Rodriguez then bounced a single into shallow left plating two more runs for a 5-0 advantage.

McVay preserved the shutout in the top of the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning. He was credited with his first save of the year.

Agosta (1-1) earned the win after tossing two scoreless innings of the relief with just one hit allowed, no walks and one strikeout.

Inland Empire starter Victor Alcantara (1-2) suffered the loss despite a solid seven-inning start. The 66ers right-hander yielded one run on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

Notes:

* The Giants recorded their second shutout of the season (5-0 win at Lancaster on April 10).

* San Jose out-hit Inland Empire 9-4. Eight Giants starters collected at least one hit.

* All 13 hits in the game were singles.

* Jones (1-for-3) extended his hitting streak to eight games with a fourth-inning single.

* Vander Tuig had made three relief appearances this season prior to Monday's start. He's now pitched 10 scoreless innings this year with just three hits allowed.

* The 66ers had only one at-bat with a runner in scoring position (Way's groundout to end the top of the eighth).

* McVay's save was San Jose's first of the season.

* Monday marked the first of 15 meetings this year between the Giants and 66ers.

On Deck: The Giants and 66ers continue their three-game series on Tuesday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 6:30 PM. Tyler Beede (0-1, 3.86 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Inland Empire is expected to counter with Harrison Cooney (1-0, 3.72 ERA). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.

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