CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Sweep Rawhide For 10th Straight Win

Published on July 16, 2011 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


VISALIA - Craig Westcott allowed just one run over a career-high eight innings as the San Jose Giants completed a four-game sweep of the Visalia Rawhide with a 3-1 victory on Friday evening at Recreation Park. San Jose scored the go-ahead run on an error in the top of the eighth inning en route to winning their 10th consecutive game. It marks the third time this season that the Giants have won at least 10 in a row while they improve their overall record to 35 games over .500 at 63-28.

Westcott (11-1) became the first 11-game winner in the California League this season after surrendered just one unearned run on four hits during his stint on the mound. The right-hander walked none and struck out three. David Mixon pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth for his first save of the season.

Tommy Joseph (2-for-5, 2 2B) started two run-scoring rallies with doubles to lead the nine-hit Giants offensive attack. Jarrett Parker (2-for-5) also finished with a pair of hits.

The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth inning when San Jose broke through against Rawhide starting pitcher Eric Smith. With one out, Joseph blasted a double off the fence down the left field line to put a runner into scoring position. Ryan Cavan was up next and he lined a double into the left center field gap to easily score Joseph with the first run of the evening.

Westcott had retired 11 straight Visalia hitters until Matt Davidson reached base via a one-out error in the bottom of the seventh inning. Bobby Borchering followed with a line drive single to right for only the Rawhide's second hit of the contest. Westcott then set down Jon Mark Owings on a pop out, but Alfredo Marte delivered a sharp single up the middle to plate Davidson with the tying run. On the play, Borchering took third and Marte advanced to second when Gary Brown's throw from center field bounced away for an error, however Westcott got out of the inning with the score tied by striking out the next hitter, Keon Broxton.

The Giants immediately reclaimed the lead in the top of the eighth inning. Facing reliever Kevin Munson, Joseph doubled into the right field corner with one out. After Cavan struck out, Luke Anders hit a grounder that was mishandled by second baseman David Nick for an error. Anders was safe at first on the play while Joseph never stopped running around third and scored ahead of the throw from the first baseman Davidson with the go-ahead tally.

Westcott returned to the mound in the bottom of the eighth and allowed a leadoff single to Mark Reed before Ryan LaPensee's sacrifice bunt moved the potential tying run to second. Westcott though came back to retire Nick on a fly out to right and Chris Owings on a groundout to shortstop ending the inning.

In the top of the ninth, three straight one-out singles from James Simmons, Brown and Ehire Adrianza produced an insurance run as the Giants extended their lead to 3-1.

Mixon (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and struck out Davidson to begin the frame before Borchering lined a single to center. However with the tying run at the plate, Mixon struck out Jon Mark Owings and induced Marte to groundout to seal the San Jose victory.

Munson (2-3) suffered the loss for the Rawwhide after surrendering the unearned run in the top of the eighth - his only inning of work. Smith worked the first seven innings and allowed one run on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts.

Westcott gave up just one hit - a single to LaPensee in the bottom of the third - over his first six innings. The right-hander faced the just one batter over the minimum during that stretch.

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California League Stories from July 16, 2011


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