CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Top Blaze for Sixth Straight Road Win

May 11, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


BAKERSFIELD, CA - The San Jose Giants used a three-run second inning and a four-run top of the eighth to defeat the Bakersfield Blaze, 7-4, on Wednesday afternoon at Sam Lynn Ballpark. The victory was San Jose's (18-12) second straight over the Blaze to begin the series and their sixth consecutive road win overall.

Jonah Arenado (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) delivered two key hits for the Giants - an RBI single in the second and a two-run home run in the eighth - to lead the Giants offensive attack. Ronnie Jebavy (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and C.J Hinojosa (2-for-5) also finished with two hits apiece.

Martin Agosta and Jose Reyes combined for six scoreless innings with just two hits allowed to begin the game for San Jose. Agosta, in his first start of the season, went the first four frames and surrendered just one hit with one walk and three strikeouts. Reyes (1-1) was credited with his first win of the season after holding Bakersfield off the scoreboard in the fifth and sixth innings. Reyes Moronta pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth for his first save of the year.

The Giants jumped out early against Blaze starter Tyler Herb. The second-inning rally began when Jose Vizcaino, Jr. was hit by a pitch to start the frame. Jebavy followed with a double into the left field corner to advance Vizcaino to third. Arenado then stepped to the plate and lined a single up the middle to score Vizcaino with the first run of the contest. Ben Turner was up next and he hit a potential double play grounder to shortstop, but Bakersfield's Drew Jackson threw wildly to second in an attempt to force out Arenado. The error allowed Arenado to move into third while Turner was safe at second. Turner was credited with an RBI on the play as Jebavy also scored to make it 2-0. After Cristian Paulino grounded out and Johneshwy Fargas was hit by a pitch, Steven Duggar lifted a sacrifice fly to left plating Arenado for a 3-0 cushion.

The score remained at 3-0 all the way until the bottom of the seventh. San Jose managed just one baserunner from the third through the seventh innings - a Duggar double in the top of the fifth - however the Agosta-Reyes tandem were able to maintain the lead. Agosta faced the minimum nine hitters over the first three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Jackson walked with one out before Kyle Petty singled with two down - the Blaze's first hit of the day. Agosta though settled down to retire Jay Baum on a fly out to left to finish the inning.

Reyes (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO) then worked around a one-out walk in the bottom of the fifth before escaping trouble in the sixth. A walk to Johmbeyker Morales started the inning before Aaron Barbosa singled. Jackson then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third with one out. Reyes though recovered to strikeout Chantz Mack on three pitches before Petty grounded out to first to end the threat.

Dusten Knight (1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) pitched the bottom of the seventh for the Giants and surrendered one run as the Bakersfield trimmed the lead to 3-1. Singles from Baum and Tyler Marlette put runners on first and second with two outs before Morales grounded an RBI single down the left field line. Knight though prevented further damage when he set down Barbosa on a fly out to center to retire the side.

San Jose then exploded for four runs in the top of the eighth to push their lead to 7-1. Facing reliever Aaron Brooks, Hinojosa singled with one out before taking second on a wild pitch. Vizcaino, Jr. then walked to put runners on first and second. Jebavy followed with a line drive single into center. On the play, Barbosa attempted to throw out Hinojosa at the plate, but the ball arrived late and then skipped off the glove of the catcher Marlette and into foul territory. The error allowed Vizcaino to also score for a 5-1 advantage. Arenado was up next and he blasted a 1-1 pitch from Brooks over the fence in deep left center for a two-run homer. The home run, Arenado's fourth of the season, made the score 7-1.

Pat Young (0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 SO) entered from the bullpen to begin the bottom of the eighth, but failed to retire any of the five batters he faced. Back-to-back walks to Barbosa and Mack started the inning before Young uncorked a wild pitch. Petty then lined an RBI single into left to cut the Giants lead to 7-2. Following a four-pitch walk to Baum, Young hit Wilson with a pitch to force home another run. The bases were still loaded with none out and the potential tying run was at the plate as Jose Morel was summoned into pitch. Morel though calmly entered and induced the next batter, Marlette, to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. One run scored on the play to make it 7-4, but Bakersfield would get no closer. Morel (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO) walked Justin Seager, but came back to retire Morales on a fly out to center ending the inning.

In the ninth, Moronta (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) issued a one-out walk to Jackson, but followed by setting down Mack on a pop out and Petty on a line out to second as the potential tying run was left in the on-deck circle.

Herb (3-1), who entered the game sixth in the California League in ERA and second in strikeouts, suffered the loss for the Blaze. The right-hander pitched seven innings and allowed three runs (two earned) and four hits. He walked one and struck out five.

Notes:

* The Giants improved to 9-7 on the road this season.

* San Jose has won eight out of their last nine games overall.

* The Giants out-hit the Blaze 8-7.

* Agosta maintained a perfect 0.00 ERA in the California League this season (11 2/3 innings). He rejoined San Jose on Tuesday after a stint with Triple-A Sacramento.

* Arenado is tied for second on the club in home runs (Chris Shaw leads with six).

* The Giants turned three double plays on Wednesday.

* Bakersfield has lost five games in a row.

* Wednesday's first pitch of 11 AM was the earliest start time to date this season for San Jose.

On Deck: The Giants will look for a three-game sweep of Bakersfield when the teams conclude their series on Thursday evening. First pitch at Sam Lynn Ballpark is scheduled for 7:15 PM. Sam Coonrod (1-1, 1.77 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while the Blaze are expected to counter with Tyler Pike (1-3, 3.55 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:45 PM.

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