Giants Power Past Storm To Win Fourth Consecutive Game
Published on May 9, 2023 under California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release
The San Jose Giants hit three home runs, including a go-ahead solo shot from Diego Velasquez in the bottom of the eighth inning, on their way to a come-from-behind 9-8 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm on Tuesday afternoon at Excite Ballpark. Thomas Gavello homered twice while Andrew Kachel had a key three-RBI double as the Giants twice overcame three-run deficits to secure the victory. The win was San Jose's (18-10) season-high tying fourth in a row.
In the opener of a six-game series, the Giants were constantly playing from behind and battled back on three separate occasions against the defending California League champions. After Lake Elsinore scored once in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead, San Jose immediately answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Carter Howell drew a leadoff walk for the Giants and advanced all the way to third on a botched pick-off before coming home when Velasquez grounded out.
The Storm then scored three times on just one hit in the top of the third to build a 4-1 lead. Facing San Jose reliever Will Kempner, the rally began when Rosman Verdugo was hit by a pitch. After Samuel Zavala walked, a successful double steal put runners on second and third. Graham Pauley then hit a grounder to shortstop that was thrown away by Velasquez for an error as two runs came home. Pauley was credited with one RBI on the play. Then with two outs, Nick Vogt's single - the only hit in the inning - plated another run to make it 4-1.
The Giants though would use the first of their three homers to quickly tie the game in the bottom of the inning. After a one-out single from Matt Higgins and a walk to Onil Perez put runners on first and second, Gavello stepped to the plate and launched a 401-foot home run to deep right center. The three-run blast tied the score at 4-4.
The seesaw affair continued with Lake Elsinore pushing across single runs in the fourth and fifth innings against Miguel Mora to take a 6-4 lead. Jacob Campbell hit the first pitch of the top of the fourth over the wall in deep left to put the Storm back ahead. Then in the fifth, Pauley drew a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and came home on Albert Fabian's sacrifice fly.
Gavello's second homer of the day - a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth - cut the Storm lead in half at 6-5. It was Gavello's team-leading fifth round-tripper of the year and marked the first time a San Jose player had a multi-homer game this season.
Lake Elsinore though would take back the momentum in the top of the seventh when Fabian connected for a two-run home run to right off of Daniel Blair to make it 8-5.
For the second time in the game, however, the Giants rallied from three runs down. Consecutive walks to Higgins and Perez started the bottom of the seventh before Gavello was plunked to load the bases. After Jose Ramos struck out, Kachel came up and ripped a ground ball down the right field line and into the corner. The hit went for a double as all three runners came home to tie the game in dramatic fashion at 8-8.
Blair returned to the mound in the top of the eighth and tossed a quick 1-2-3 inning to set the stage for Velasquez in the bottom of the frame. After the first two batters of the bottom of the eighth were set down, Velasquez crushed a fly ball the carried over the fence in right center for a tiebreaking solo homer. The home run was Velasquez's second of the year as San Jose took their first lead of the afternoon at 9-8.
Dylan Cumming then slammed the door in the top of the ninth to earn his team-leading third save of the year. Cumming issued a one-out walk to Zavala, but responded with back-to-back strikeouts of the #3 and #4 hitters in the Storm lineup, Pauley and Griffin Doersching, to end the game.
Blair (2-0) was credited with the win after working three innings of long relief. He allowed two runs on two hits, walked none and struck out two. Hayden Wynja made his first start of the season after seven previous relief appearances. Wynja pitched the first two innings and surrendered one run with one walk and one strikeout.
Gavello (2-for-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI), Higgins (2-for-3) and Zach Morgan (2-for-4, 2B) had multi-hit games for the Giants. San Jose out-hit Lake Elsinore 9-6. The Storm were a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts and successfully executed three double steals. The three home runs hit by the Giants was a season-high.
The Giants and Storm continue their series on Wednesday evening with first pitch at Excite Ballpark set for 6:30 PM. Gerelmi Maldonado is San Jose's scheduled starting pitcher.
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