Giants Shut Out Visalia 2-0 To Even Series
July 9, 2005 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Juan Serrato fired seven shutout innings to lead the San Jose Giants to a 2-0 victory over the Visalia Oaks in front of 2,099 fans at Municipal Stadium on Saturday evening. Serrato allowed just four hits with no walks and five strike outs before Jon Coutlangus and Joe Bateman each fired scoreless innings out of the bullpen to preserve the victory. Offensively, Guillermo Rodriguez and Clay Timpner recorded the RBI¹s as San Jose evened their series with the Oaks.
The Giants jumped ahead early with a single run in the bottom of the second inning against Visalia starting pitcher Kevin Lynn. Eddy Martinez-Esteve led off the rally with a double down the left field line. Martinez-Esteve moved to third on a Nate Schierholtz single before Rodriguez came through with a sacrifice fly to center.
Serrato breezed through the first four innings facing the minimum 12 batters with just one hit allowed. The Oaks threatened in the top of the sixth putting runners on second and third with one out. But Serrato responded with a strike out of Josh Asanovich and a fly out off the bat of Kris Dufner.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Oaks again rallied, but came up short against Serrato. Matt Leandro led off with a double down the right field line. Leandro moved to third on a Joey Gomes ground out, but was then thrown out at the plate on a ground ball to shortstop off the bat of Colt Simmons.
In the top of the eighth, Coutlangus surrendered three hits, but managed to keep the shutout intact. With Mark Schleicher at second and one out, Carlos Ramos singled to right field only to have Schierholtz fire a strike to home plate in time to retire Schleicher.
San Jose added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning as John Bowker singled to lead off and moved to second on a walk to Kyle Haines. After a Pat Dobson sacrifice bunt, Timpner grounded a single to third off of the glove of the third baseman Schleicher to score Bowker for a 2-0 lead.
In the ninth, Bateman worked a perfect 1-2-3 frame finishing the contest with a strike out of Simmons. For Bateman, it was his tenth save of the season as he lowered his ERA to 1.51.
Timpner (2-for-4, RBI) and Martinez-Esteve (2-for-4, 2B) recorded multi-hit games for the Giants.
San Jose snapped a season-long four-game home losing streak with the victory.
California League Stories from July 9, 2005
- Giants Shut Out Visalia 2-0 To Even Series - San Jose Giants
- Oaks Shutout - Visalia Rawhide
- Lancaster JetHawks 2005 Home Jersey Auction - Lancaster JetHawks
- JetHawks win 8-7, Montero promoted to AA - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Fall 8-4 To Visalia In Series Opener - San Jose Giants
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