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CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Rally Falls Short In 8-7 Loss To Ports

April 18, 2009 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Stockton's Matt Spencer hit a grand slam during a five-run fifth inning before the Ports held off a late San Jose rally in the final frames to post an 8-7 victory on Friday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Matt Smith added a key three-run homer as the Ports claimed their first win in nine games this season. San Jose pounded out 14 hits and scored two runs in the both the eighth and ninth innings, but stranded the potential tying run at third base to finish the contest. With the loss, the Giants fall to 6-3 on the season.

Nick Noonan (3-for-4, 2B), Buster Posey (3-for-5, RBI) and Roger Kieschnick (3-for-5, RBI) led the Giants offensive attack on Friday. Conor Gillaspie (2-for-4, RBI) and Angel Villalona (2-for-5, 2 RBI) each added two hits.

Trailing 8-3, three consecutive singles from Gillaspie, Villalona and Kieschnick began the top of the eighth inning for San Jose. Thomas Neal then brought home the first run of the frame with a ground out before Trent Kline delivered a sacrifice fly to left bringing the Giants to within 8-5. Ports reliever Pat Currin though did strike out the next hitter, Darren Ford, to strand a runner at second base and keep Stockton ahead by three.

Daniel Thomas entered the game to begin the top of the ninth for the Ports and promptly allowed a leadoff infield single to Vladimir Frias before Nick Noonan belted a double off the fence in right to put runners at second and third. Thomas recovered to strike out Posey, but then issued a four-pitch walk to Gillaspie to load the bases. Villalona followed by grounding into a fielder's choice to shortstop plating Frias to make it 8-6. Kieschnick then lined a single into center field to easily score Noonan and advance Villalona, the potential tying run, to third base. However, Thomas got the next hitter, Neal, to chase a pitch in the dirt for strike three to end the game and give Stockton their first win of the year.

Scott Barnes (1-1) suffered the loss on the mound for the Giants after surrendering four runs (all earned) on four hits over four-plus innings. Barnes began his outing needing just 33 pitches to work three scoreless frames before running into trouble in the bottom of the fourth. With San Jose ahead by a 2-0 margin, Michael Richard led off the run-scoring rally with an infield single. Two batters later, Greg Dowling drew a walk and then Smith stepped to the plate and crushed a 3-2 pitch from Barnes over the fence in left center field for a home run. The homer was Stockton's first of the season and it gave the Ports a 3-2 lead.

The Giants quickly responded with a single run in the top of the fifth inning when Frias drew a two-out walk, advanced to third on Noonan's single and scored when Posey singled to left center field.

Barnes began the bottom of the fifth by allowing a double to Frank Martinez and was then removed from the game in favor of David Mixon. Alex Valdez was up next and he dropped down a bunt right in front of home plate and reached base safely when the catcher Kline was unsuccessful in attempting to throw out Martinez, who was going back to second base. Shane Keough then reached on a bunt single down the third base line before Richard bounced an RBI single into left field to give the Ports a 4-3 advantage. Spencer was up next and he drove the first pitch from Mixon over the fence in left center field for a grand slam and an 8-3 Stockton lead.

Mixon (1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO) completed the fifth inning without any more runs scoring before Adam Cowart (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) and Wilmin Rodriguez (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) combined to hold the Ports scoreless over the last three frames.

The Giants initially took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning when four consecutive one-out singles from Noonan, Posey, Gillaspie and Villalona produced a pair of runs.

Jon Hunton (1-0), who entered the game with two outs in the top of the fifth, was credited with the victory out of the Stockton bullpen. Hunton allowed two runs on four hits during his 2 1/3 inning stint on the mound. Thomas was credited with his first save of the year.

Notes: The Giants had not trailed in 5+ games against Stockton this season until Smith's home run in the fourth inning ... Posey extended his hitting streak to eight games ... Kieschnick broke out of a 1-for-15 slump with singles in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings ... San Jose out-hit the Ports by a 14-8 margin, but Stockton was 4-for-5 with runners in scoring position ... The Ports left only one runner on base ... Barnes allowed the first home run of his professional career (52 innings) ... Stockton had scored only eight runs total in their first eight games this season entering Friday's contest ... Villalona has four consecutive multiple-hit games at the plate ... San Jose's only extra-base hit was Noonan's ninth-inning double ... Barnes walked one and struck out four.

On Deck: The Giants and Ports continue this four-game series on Saturday evening with first pitch at Banner Island Ballpark scheduled for 7:05 PM. Craig Clark (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Scott Mitchinson (0-0, 1.80 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

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