Giants Take Series Opener from Blaze, 5-2
Published on July 9, 2014 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE - Joe Biagini allowed only one earned run in seven innings as the San Jose Giants earned a 5-2 victory over the Bakersfield Blaze on Tuesday evening at Municipal Stadium. San Jose took the lead for good with a three-run bottom of the sixth en route to claiming the opener of the three-game series.
Biagini (6-5) surrendered five hits and two runs in total during his stint on the mound to pick-up the win. The right-hander walked two and struck out three. Bryce Bandilla (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Tyler Mizenko (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) then threw scoreless eighth and ninth innings respectively to seal the victory. Mizenko earned his seventh save of the season.
Offensively, Blake Miller (1-for-4, HR, RBI) clubbed his eighth home run of the year while Alberto Robles (2-for-4, RBI) was the only Giants player to finish the contest with more than one hit.
With the game tied 2-2, the sixth-inning rally began when Miller struck out with one out, but reached safely on a wild pitch. Brian Ragira then stepped to the plate and ripped a double down the left field line to score Miller all the way from first with the go-ahead tally. After a wild pitch advanced Ragira to third, Ben Turner blooped an RBI single down the right field line for a 4-2 advantage. Elliott Blair followed with a single and then Robles grounded a single into right plating Turner to make it 5-2.
With a three-run lead, Biagini returned to the mound in the top of the seventh and worked around a one-out walk to keep the Blaze off the scoreboard. Bandilla then issued a leadoff walk in the eighth, but recovered to strikeout Zach Vincej before Jeff Gelalich lined into a double play to short. In the top of the ninth, Mizenko needed just eight pitches to retire Bakersfield in order to finish the game.
Blaze starter Daniel Wright (5-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs (all earned) on six hits over 5 1/3 innings. Wright struck out two and walked none.
Bakersfield took an early 1-0 lead with a single run in the top of the first against Biagini. Brent Peterson started the game with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on the play when the right fielder Blair mishandled the ball for an error. Then with one out Gelalich was hit by a pitch before Sean Buckley reached on an infield single to shortstop plating Peterson with the first run of the contest. Biagini though was able to limit the damage inducing the next hitter, Sebastian Elizalde, to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
The Giants tied the game when Miller led off the bottom of the second with a home run to deep left center. San Jose then took a 2-1 lead in the third when Galindo doubled with two outs and scored when the next batter, Brandon Bednar, lined a single into center.
Meanwhile, Biagini set down the Blaze 1-2-3 in the second and fourth innings while pitching around a leadoff single in the third. He had retired 10 out of 11 hitters until issuing a leadoff walk to Harold Riggins in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Riggins then stole second, but was thrown out at the plate by Blair when he attempted to score on Peterson's single to right.
Bakersfield tied it up 2-2 in the top of the sixth when Gelalich connected for a one-out solo homer to right before the Giants reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning.
Notes: The Giants and Blaze were meeting for the first time since April 27 ... San Jose is 5-6 against Bakersfield this season ... Over his last two starts, Biagini has worked 14 innings with three earned runs allowed (2-0 record) ... The Giants out-hit the Blaze 9-5 on Tuesday ... Eight San Jose starters finished the game with at least one hit ... Ragira (eight games), Bednar (seven games) and Blair (seven games) all extended hitting streaks ... The Giants improved to 10-9 in the second half.
On Deck: The Giants and Blaze continue their three-game series on Wednesday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Pat Young (6-3, 5.80 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Bakersfield is expected to counter with Ismael Guillon (0-1, 12.41 ERA). The San Jose Giants will host their first-ever Grateful Dead Tribute Night, with special tie-dye jerseys worn by the team and available during an in-game silent auction. Fans are encouraged to wear 60's, 70's or tie-dye gear to the game and receive two FREE future game tickets. Tickets to tomorrow's game are available and can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from July 9, 2014
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- Flemer's Work Spoiled in 5-4 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Unearned Runs Earn JetHawks Loss to 66ers - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Take Series Opener from Blaze, 5-2 - San Jose Giants
- Blaze Stymied in Road-Trip Opener - Bakersfield Blaze
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