Giants Rally Falls Short in 4-3 Loss
July 30, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - The Inland Empire 66ers built a four-run lead and then held off San Jose late in a 4-3 victory over the Giants on Sunday evening at Municipal Stadium. With the loss, San Jose (47-61 overall, 13-25 second half) dropped two out of three in the series to the Sixers and finished their six-game homestand with a 2-4 record.
Dillon Dobson (1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI) homered and drove in all three Giants runs while Heath Quinn (2-for-3, 2B) and Wander Franco (2-for-4) had two hits apiece to lead the way offensively in defeat.
San Jose starter Logan Webb (1-3) suffered the loss despite not allowing an earned run over 4 1/3 innings. Webb surrendered four hits and two unearned runs during his outing. He walked two and struck out six. Webb, who lowered his season ERA to a sparkling 1.82, was then promoted to Double-A Richmond after the game.
Inland Empire struck early on Sunday with single runs in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. In the top of the first, Webb retired the first two batters of the game before Franklin Torres reached safely on a fielding error committed by Kelvin Beltre at third base. Julian Leon followed with a single before Jonah Todd grounded a single up the middle to bring home Torres with the first run of the night.
In the third, Brandon Marsh drew a leadoff walk for the 66ers. Marsh was then picked-off, but safely made it into second when the throw from first baseman Gio Brusa to shortstop Brandon Van Horn was dropped for an error. Then with two outs, Todd delivered another RBI single to make the score 2-0.
Inland Empire stretched their lead to 4-0 in the top of the sixth. With reliever Franklin Van Gurp on the mound, David MacKinnon walked to start the inning. Two batters, Richie Fecteau clubbed a two-run home run to straightway center. The homer was Fecteau's second of the series and fourth this season.
The Giants, meanwhile, managed only three singles over the first five innings against 66ers pitching before finally breaking through in the bottom of the sixth. Franco worked a leadoff walk before Dobson stepped to the plate and crushed a two-run home run to deep center. The home run, Dobson's first this season in the California League, brought San Jose back to within 4-2.
The Giants further cut into the Inland Empire lead with another run in the bottom of the seventh, but left the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Back-to-back one-out walks to Quinn and Jalen Miller started the rally before Franco singled to load the bases. Dobson followed with an RBI groundout to bring home Quinn making the score 4-3. However with Miller at third and Franco at second, Johneshwy Fargas attempted to bunt for a hit and was called out for the ball hitting him in fair territory as he left the batters box.
In the bottom of the eighth, Beltre walked with one out, but was stranded at first after Van Horn popped out and Chris Corbett flied out. Still down 4-3, San Jose then advanced the potential tying run to third base in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short in their comeback win. Quinn led off the frame with a ringing double to deep left center before pinch-runner Bryce Johnson moved to third when Miller grounded out. Franco followed with a sharp grounder to shortstop that was stopped by diving Alberto Triunfel, who threw to first to record the second out of the inning. Dobson then fouled out to first base to end the game.
Marc Brakeman (2-0) was credited with the win after retiring the only batter he faced to close out the bottom of the fifth. Nate Bertness pitched the final three innings for the Sixers with one run and two hits allowed to collect his first save of the year. Inland Empire starter Patrick Sandoval struck out nine and surrendered just three hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
Notes
* San Jose lost their 20th game of July (league-worst 8-20 record).
* Webb's six strikeouts was one off his career-high. He did not allow an earned run in 14 out of his 20 starts with the Giants.
* San Jose out-hit Inland Empire 7-6. The Giants finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
* Quinn was batting leadoff for the first time in his three-year professional career. He reached base four times in five plate appearances (two hits & two walks).
* Frank Rubio returned to San Jose from Sacramento (AAA) and threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. In a corresponding roster move, pitcher Travis Perry was transferred back to the Arizona Rookie League.
* The Giants played their league-leading 37th one-run game of the season (16-21 record).
On Deck
Following an off day, the Giants travel to Visalia to begin a three-game series against the Rawhide. Tuesday's series opener at Recreation Park is a 7:00 PM first pitch. Domenic Mazza (3-1, 3.49 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Riley Smith (4-5, 4.03 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:40 PM.
California League Stories from July 30, 2018
- Sixers Even Series with Slam from Leon, Solo Shot for Fecteau - Inland Empire 66ers
- Navarro with Three Hits, Adell Homers But Sixers Fall at San Jose - Inland Empire 66ers
- Giants Rally Falls Short in 4-3 Loss - San Jose Giants
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- Rancho Rips Modesto to Complete 3-Game Sweep - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Storm Silence Ports in 3-0 Loss - Stockton Ports
- JetHawks Rally to Take Series Sunday - Lancaster JetHawks
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