CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Top Modesto, Extend Win Streak to Four

Published on July 2, 2014 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


MODESTO - Matt Lujan pitched into the seventh inning and the Giants knocked out 12 hits in a 7-3 series-opening victory over the Modesto Nuts on Tuesday evening at John Thurman Field. San Jose scored twice in the top of the first and never trailed in the contest en route to earning their fourth straight win.

Trevor Brown (2-for-5, 2 RBI) had two hits, including a key two-out, two-run single in the top of the fifth to lead the offensive attack. Chuckie Jones (2-for-3, RBI), Brian Ragira (2-for-4) and Ydwin Villegas (2-for-5) added two hits each while Blake Miller (1-for-4, 2 RBI) drove home a pair of runs.

Lujan improved to 2-0 through his first two starts with the Giants after tossing 6 2/3 innings with three runs (all earned) and six hits allowed. The left-hander, who at one point in his start retired 15 out of 17 batters, walked none and struck out seven.

San Jose jumped out early in the top of the first as three consecutive one-out singles from Jones, Mitch Delfino and Miller produced the first run of the night. A wild pitch uncorked by Nuts starter Jayson Aquino then brought home Delfino to make it 2-0.

Lujan began his start with two scoreless innings and had set down seven out of the first eight hitters he faced until Mike Tauchman hit a one-out solo homer down the left field line. The third-inning homer cut the Giants lead in half at 2-1.

After neither team scored in the fourth, the Giants erupted for four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Back-to-back walks to Jesus Galindo and Jones began the frame. Delfino then grounded into a fielder's choice to shortstop with Jones forced out at second. Miller was up next and he also hit a slow grounder to shortstop, however on the play, Modesto's Rosell Herrera threw wildly to second in an attempt to force out Delfino. Miller was credited with an RBI as Galindo scored to make it 3-1 while Delfino was safe at second on the error. Ragira then singled to load the bases and after Elliott Blair popped out, Shawn Payne was hit by a pitch to force home Delfino was the second run of the inning. The rally then continued when Brown stepped to the plate and singled into left plating two more runs for a 6-1 advantage.

San Jose extended their lead to 7-1 in the top of the sixth as Galindo led off with a triple to deep left center and immediately scored when the next batter, Jones, grounded a single into left.

Meanwhile, Lujan worked around a two-out error in the bottom of the fourth before pitching a 1-2-3 fifth inning. A two-out double from Will Swanner in the bottom of the sixth snapped a string of six consecutive batters retired, but Lujan then struck out Pat Valaika for a third time to end the inning.

The Nuts pushed across two runs in the bottom of the seventh to knock Lujan out of the game. A double from Jordan Ribera started the frame before Derek Jones smacked an RBI triple to deep left center. Sean Dwyer followed with a sacrifice fly plating Jones to cut the lead to 7-3. Lujan was pulled after allowing a two-out single to Tauchman, but Stephen Johnson entered from the bullpen and promptly set down Chris O'Dowd on a fly out to center to finish the inning.

Johnson (1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) then worked a perfect bottom of the eighth before Mason McVay (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) set down the Nuts in order in the ninth to seal the victory. The two relievers combined to retire the last seven Modesto hitters of the game.

Aquino (2-5) suffered the loss for the Nuts after yielding six runs (three earned) on five hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out one.

Notes: San Jose's four-game win streak is one off of their season-high (five games, June 1-5) ... The Giants out-hit the Nuts 12-6 ... San Jose was 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position compared to 1-for-3 for Modesto ... Payne (1-for-1, 3 BB, HBP) reached base in all five of his plate appearances ... Miller is fifth in the league with 60 RBI's ... Both of Lujan's starts with San Jose have come against the Nuts ... The Giants improved their second half record to 6-6.

On Deck: The Giants continue their series against Modesto on Wednesday evening with first pitch at John Thurman Field scheduled for 7:05 PM. Joe Biagini (4-5, 4.30 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while the Nuts are expected to counter with Ben Alsup (0-8, 5.61 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:35 PM.

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California League Stories from July 2, 2014


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