CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Sweep Doubleheader from Rawhide

Published on July 25, 2011 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE - The San Jose Giants swept a doubleheader from the Visalia Rawhide on Sunday evening at Municipal Stadium rallying for a 7-3 victory in the first game before a 5-0 shutout win in the nightcap. San Jose scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the opening contest while three pitchers combined on the Giants' leading-leading 13th shutout of the season to complete the sweep.

The second game of the twinbill was a make-up of the June 4 rainout and counted towards the first half standings. With the victory, San Jose officially finishes the first half at 51-19 to tie their team record for most wins in a half (2009, 51-19 in the second half). The doubleheader sweep improves the Giants' overall record to 67-33 through the first 100 games of the season.

Chris Heston (8-4) tossed San Jose's first complete-game of the season to pick-up the win in the opening contest. Heston surrendered three runs (all earned) on five hits over seven innings with three walks and four strikeouts.

Rawhide starting pitcher David Holmberg had faced the minimum 15 batters over the first five innings with just one hit allowed before the Giants rallied in the bottom of the sixth. Trailing 3-0, Luke Anders led off with a double to deep right field before Jose Flores drew a walk. James Simmons then stepped to the plate and blasted a double off the fence in left center field to score both runners and bring San Jose to within 3-2. The rally continued as Gary Brown reached base on a bunt single and when Holmberg threw wildly to first for an error, Simmons raced home with the tying run. Brown took second on the miscue and then moved to third when the next batter, Juan Ciriaco, reached on a two-strike bunt single. Evan Marshall was then summoned from the bullpen, but Tommy Joseph greeted the new pitcher with an RBI double to the wall in straightaway center plating Brown with the go-ahead run.

After Joseph's hit, Ryan Cavan grounded out and Jarrett Parker was intentionally walked to load the bases. Alex Burg then hit a grounder to shortstop as Visalia's Chris Owings attempted to force out Parker at second. However, Owings' throw skipped past second baseman David Nick for an error as Ciriaco and Joseph both scored to make it 6-3. Two batters later, Flores delivered a sacrifice fly to score the seventh and final run of the inning.

Heston returned to the mound in the top of the seventh - the final inning of the game - and worked around a one-out single to seal the victory.

Visalia jumped out to the early lead as Matt Davidson connected for a two-out, two-run homer to left off of Heston in the first inning. Then in the third, Nick led off with a home run for a 3-0 Rawhide advantage. Heston though would allow just one hit for the remainder of the game. He retired six consecutive hitters until Keon Broxton drew a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth, but Owings then bounced into a double play to erase the runner. Heston then had another stretch of six straight batters set down before Mark Reed singled with one out in the top of the seventh.

Holmberg (1-2) was saddled with the loss after yielding five runs (all earned) on five hits over five-plus innings. He walked one and struck out none. San Jose's only baserunner in the first five innings against Holmberg was Brown's leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth.

Brown (2-for-3) was the only Giants player to finish with a multi-hit game. San Jose out-hit the Rawhide by a 6-5 margin.

The Giants didn't need a late comeback in the second game scoring once in the bottom of the second inning before four tallies in the third. Parker led off the second inning with a single against Visalia starter Yiomar Camacho before Burg stepped to the plate and lined an RBI double into the right field corner.

In the third, Simmons and Brown both singled to put runners on first and second before Ciriaco drew a walk to load the bases with none out. Joseph followed with a line drive single into left center field plating Simmons with the first run of the inning and then Cavan came through with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0. Parker was up next and he singled into right center field bringing home another run. Then with two outs, Camacho uncorked a wild pitch allowing Joseph to score for a 5-0 advantage.

Andy Reichard (6-1) picked-up the win in the nightcap with five scoreless innings of work. Reichard allowed five hits - all singles - with no walks and one strikeout. The Rawhide threatened in the top of the second with the game still scoreless as back-to-back singles from Bobby Borchering and Jon Mark Owings put runners on first and second with none out, however Alfredo Marte grounded into a double play before Brent Greer bounced out to second. It was the only inning in which Visalia put a runner into scoring position while facing Reichard. The Giants starter worked around a pair of singles in the top of the third, tossed 1-2-3 fourth and used a double play to pitch through a leadoff hit in the fifth inning.

Jose Valdez (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO) relieved Reichard to begin the top of the sixth and issued two walks and allowed a single to load the bases with two outs, but Jon Mark Owings struck out looking to end the threat.

Stephen Harrold (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) then worked a perfect top of the seventh to finish the game.

Parker (2-for-3, RBI) and Flores (2-for-3) both finished with two hits to lead San Jose offensively. The Giants out-hit the Rawhide 9-7.

Camacho (0-1), who was making his California League debut, suffered the loss after surrendering all five runs on seven hits over three innings. He walked one and struck out one.

Notes: San Jose's 67 wins are tied for the most in all of Minor League Baseball (San Antonio, Double-A Texas League) ... The Giants were playing their second doubleheader of the season ... They split a twinbill at Modesto on June 29 ... San Jose has followed a five-game losing streak with three straight wins ... The Giants have won eight consecutive games against Visalia dating back to June 3 ... The Rawhide did not have an extra-base hit after Nick's home run in the third inning of game one ... Reichard was making his first start since June 24 ... His last seven appearances were all in relief ... Flores is 6-for-8 (. 750) with two RBI's in the first three games of the series.

On Deck: The Giants will look for a four-game sweep of the Rawhide when the teams conclude their series on Monday evening. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Kelvin Marte (7-6, 3.48 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Diogenes Rosario (5-3, 4.85 ERA). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com. The game will also be televised live on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104.

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California League Stories from July 25, 2011


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