Giants Shutout Blaze to Complete Series Sweep
May 13, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Sam Coonrod fired seven scoreless innings and Brandon Bednar hit a three-run home run to lead the San Jose Giants to a 6-0 victory over the Bakersfield Blaze on Thursday evening at Sam Lynn Ballpark. The shutout was San Jose's (19-12) first this season as the Giants completed a three-game series sweep of the Blaze.
Coonrod (2-1) surrendered just three singles during his dominant stint on the mound to pick-up the win. The right-hander walked two, struck out two and faced only two batters over the minimum.
Bednar's (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) home run broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning while Ronnie Jebavy (2-for-5, 2B, SB), C.J Hinojosa (2-for-4, 2B, 3B, RBI) and Chris Shaw (2-for-4, RBI) also finished with two hits apiece to lead the offensive attack.
Neither team scored over the first three innings before San Jose broke through in the top of the fourth against Bakersfield starter Tyler Pike. A one-out single from Shaw started the rally before Jose Vizcaino, Jr. drew a walk. After Jonah Arenado flied out, Bednar stepped to the plate and launched the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in left center for a three-run homer. The home run, Bednar's first of the season, gave the Giants a 3-0 lead.
San Jose then pushed across two more runs in the top of the fifth. Cristian Paulino led off by drawing a walk before advancing to third on Jebavy's single into right. Then with one out, the Giants successfully executed a double steal with Jebavy swiping second and Paulino stealing home to make it 4-0. One pitch later, Hinojosa blasted a double off the wall in left plating Jebavy for a 5-0 cushion.
The Giants' final run of the night came in the top of the seventh. Jebavy doubled down the left field line to start the inning and eventually scored on Shaw's two-out single into center.
Meanwhile, Coonrod cruised throughout his entire outing. He pitched around a leadoff single in the first and a two-out single in the second before working a 1-2-3 bottom of the third. Coonrod threw only 25 pitches over the first three innings.
Down by three runs, the Blaze threatened in the bottom of the fourth as Chantz Mack walked with two outs before Jay Baum grounded a single into right. On the hit, San Jose's Steven Duggar bobbled the ball momentarily in right field. Mack attempted to move up to third on the play, but was thrown out by Duggar to end the inning.
Coonrod then breezed through perfect fifth and sixth innings. A one-out walk to Mack in the bottom of the seventh snapped a string of seven consecutive batters retired, but Baum followed by grounding into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Jeff Soptic (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO) pitched the bottom of the eighth for the Giants and worked around a pair of walks to preserve the shutout. Dusten Knight (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) then struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to finish the game. Bakersfield did not record a hit after the fourth inning.
Pike (1-4) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs (all earned) on five hits over five innings. He walked four and struck out one.
Notes:
* The Giants extended their season-high road winning streak to seven games.
* San Jose out-hit Bakersfield 10-3.
* Coonrod lowered his ERA to 1.32 through five starts this season. He threw only 78 pitches during his seven innings on Thursday.
* Jebavy has three straight multi-hit games. He went 6-for-13 (.462 AVG) with two doubles and a triple during the series against the Blaze.
* The Giants have won nine out of their last ten games overall.
On Deck: The Giants return to Municipal Stadium on Friday night for a brief two-game homestand with the Modesto Nuts in town. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 7:00 PM. D.J. Snelten (1-2, 3.58 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Sam Howard (1-1, 3.64 ERA). It's a KRTY Family Friday at the ballpark and a spectacular fireworks show presented by San Jose Water Company will follow the game. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from May 13, 2016
- Ports Blow Four-Run Lead, Fall 6-5 - Stockton Ports
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Return Home for Two Games against Modesto - San Jose Giants
- Leonora Single Gives Rawhide 6-5 Walk-Off Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Storm Take Second Straight against Sixers - Inland Empire 66ers
- Sixers Suffer Storm Sweep - Inland Empire 66ers
- Giants Shutout Blaze to Complete Series Sweep - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Tripped up on Thursday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Early Ferguson Home Run Propels Lancaster - Lancaster JetHawks
- Timely Tanks Lead Nuts to 6-4 Win - Modesto Nuts
- Slump Continues in 6-0 Blanking - Bakersfield Blaze
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