CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Suffer 4-3 Loss, Split Series in Visalia

July 3, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


VISALIA, CA - Visalia's Michael Perez hit a go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Rawhide rallied for a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Giants on Sunday evening at Recreation Park. With the loss, San Jose (43-37) splits the four-game series against Visalia.

T.J. Bennett (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) drove in all three Giants runs with a two-run homer and an RBI single to lead the way offensively. Dylan Davis (3-for-4, 2B) added three hits for San Jose.

The Rawhide took an early 2-0 lead in the contest with a pair of runs against Giants starter Jose Reyes in the bottom of the third. Chuck Taylor started the inning with a single and immediately scored when the next batter, Domingo Leyba, doubled to right. Leyba advanced to third on the throw home and then scored himself when Marty Herum grounded out to second.

San Jose though immediately answered with two runs of their own in the top of the fourth. With one out, Jonah Arenado singled before moving to second on Jose Vizcaino's groundout. Bennett then stepped to the plate and launched a towering home run over the fence in straightaway center field. The homer, Bennett's first of the season, tied the game 2-2.

The Giants then took the lead with a single run in the top of the sixth. Davis led off with a single before a one-out walk to Vizcaino. Bennett followed with a sharp ground ball single up the middle to plate Davis for a 3-2 San Jose advantage.

Reyes worked a season-high six innings during his start with two runs (both earned) and seven hits allowed. The right-hander walked one and achieved a new season-high with six strikeouts.

With the score still 3-2 Giants, Jeff Soptic entered from the bullpen to begin the bottom of the seventh. Facing the top of the lineup, Taylor singled to start the inning. Leyba then lined a single into right center with Taylor advancing to third. Davis' throw to third on the hit was late and pulled Vizcaino off the bag allowing Leyba to move into second. Soptic recovered to set down Herum on a groundout, but Perez followed with a line drive single into right scoring both Taylor and Leyba to put Visalia in front by a 4-3 margin.

San Jose's only baserunner over the final three innings against the Rawhide bullpen was a leadoff single from Davis in the top of the eighth. Davis, who was representing the tying run, eventually made it to second with two outs, but was stranded when Bennett struck out.

Gabriel Moya (3-0) was credited with the win for Visalia after pitching a perfect top of the seventh. Bud Jeter worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 13th save of the year.

Soptic (0-3), who pitched only the bottom of the seventh for the Giants, was saddled with the loss.

Notes: * Visalia out-hit San Jose 10-9. * The Rawhide went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Their only hit was Perez's go-ahead single in the bottom of the seventh. * Davis finished the series 7-for-17 (.412 AVG) with a double, two home runs and eight RBI's. * San Francisco Giants infielder Kelby Tomlinson was the DH for San Jose on Sunday in the second game of his rehabilitation assignment. He finished 0-for-4. * The Giants are still without a series win in Visalia since April of 2013.

On Deck: The Giants return to Municipal Stadium on Monday evening for the start of an eight-game homestand. The Fourth of July game against the Modesto Nuts is scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM. Phil Bickford (1-0, 1.64 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Yency Almonte (5-5, 3.90 ERA). The game will be televised live on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104/819.

Check out the San Jose Giants Statistics



California League Stories from July 3, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central