Giants Suffer 7-4 Loss To Rawhide
June 16, 2013 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
VISALIA - The Visalia Rawhide scored three runs in both the sixth and seventh innings and then held off San Jose late to post a 7-4 victory over the Giants on Saturday evening at Recreation Park. A night after clinching the first half North Division title, San Jose left seven runners on base over the last three innings and committed a season-high tying four errors. The loss drops the Giants to 42-27 with one game remaining in the first half.
John Polonius (3-for-5, HR, RBI) had three hits, including his first home run of the season, to lead San Jose offensively. Mac Williamson (2-for-5, 2B) added two hits while Devin Harris (1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI) drove home a pair of runs.
The Giants took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning before Visalia rallied. Facing reliever Edward Concepcion, Kerry Jenkins was hit by a pitch with one out before Evan Marzilli drew a walk. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third before Jenkins scored when the next batter, Kevin Medrano, grounded out. Marzilli then came home on a Concepcion balk to give the Rawhide their first lead of the game at 3-2.
The sixth-inning rally continued as Gerson Montilla followed the balk with a single. Montilla promptly stole second and scored on David Nick's single.
San Jose answered with a run in the top of the seventh to cut the Visalia advantage to 4-3, but missed an opportunity in the frame to tie or reclaim the lead. Shawn Payne reached on an error to leadoff before stealing second with one out. Eliezer Zambrano then doubled into the left field corner to bring home Payne to make the score 4-3. Skyler Stromsmoe followed by drawing a walk before Polonius reached on an infield single to load the bases, however new pitcher Patrick Schuster induced the next batter, Brock Bond, to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play to keep the Rawhide in front.
Visalia then scored three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to increase their lead to 7-3. Stephen Harrold, who entered the game with two outs in the sixth, issued a leadoff walk to Raul Navarro before Steven Rodriguez singled. After the next two batters were both retired on fly outs, Medrano reached base on a throwing error committed by Polonius at shortstop. The miscue allowed Navarro to score the first run of the inning. Montilla and Nick then produced back-to-back RBI singles for a 7-3 Rawhide advantage.
The Giants threatened in the top of the eighth as Williamson led off with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch before Harris drew a walk. Schuster though registered consecutive strikeouts of Myles Schroder and Payne before Chris Lofton grounded out.
In the top of the ninth, Stromsmoe walked with one out before singles from Polonius and Bond loaded the bases again. Williamson followed by striking out on three pitches, but then Harris drew a walk to force home a run trimming the lead to 7-4. However with the potential tying run at first, Visalia summoned All-Star closer Jake Barrett and he promptly struck out Schroder looking to end the game.
Rawhide starting pitcher Keith Hessler (5-3) picked-up the win after tossing six innings with two runs (both earned) and five hits allowed. He struck out four and walked none.
San Jose took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs off of Hessler in the top of the first. With one out, Polonius belted an opposite-field solo homer to right center. Then with two outs, Williamson reached on an infield single before coming home on Harris' double into the right center field gap.
Hessler though recovered to not allow another run for the remainder of his outing. The Giants' only hits from the second through the sixth innings against Hessler were Lofton's one-out single in the top of the second and Schroder's one-out single in the fourth.
Ty Blach started on the mound for San Jose and worked five effective innings with just one run and six hits allowed. Blach walked two and struck out six during his 80-pitch performance. Visalia's only run against Blach came in the bottom of the third when Ryan Court delivered a two-out, RBI triple to center. Blach stranded at least one runner in scoring position in all five of his innings.
Concepcion (0-1) was saddled with the loss after he was charged with three runs (all earned) on two hits in 2/3 of an inning. He walked two, hit a batter and struck out none.
California League Stories from June 16, 2013
- 'Hide Split Series with SJ to Finish 1st Half - Visalia Rawhide
- Ports Finish Half Strong with 6-4 Win - Stockton Ports
- 66ers Wrap Best First Half Since 2007 - Inland Empire 66ers
- Nuts Drop First-Half Finale to Blaze - Modesto Nuts
- Half Ends in Series Split with Storm - Lancaster JetHawks
- Father's Day Brings Blaze Good Fortune in 12-3 Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- Kramer Sneed Added to All Star Team - Inland Empire 66ers
- Winkler Dominates as Nuts Defeat Blaze - Modesto Nuts
- Muncy's Dramatic Homer Helps Ports to 7-6 Win - Stockton Ports
- Giants Suffer 7-4 Loss To Rawhide - San Jose Giants
- 66ers Win Saturday, But WonâÃâ¬Ãâ¢t Win 1st Half - Inland Empire 66ers
- Quakes Topped in Ten - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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