Giants Top Sixers in Series Opener, 6-2
July 28, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - Johneshwy Fargas and Matt Winn homered for San Jose in a 6-2 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers on Friday evening at Municipal Stadium. Carlos Sano delivered an effective five-inning start to pick-up the win before Trevor Horn and Nolan Riggs combined to throw four scoreless innings of relief to propel the Giants (47-59 overall, 13-23 second half) to the series-opening triumph.
Winn (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI), Wander Franco (2-for-4, 2 2B) and Jalen Miller (2-for-4, 2B) had multi-hit games for San Jose.
Sano (2-3) allowed just three hits and two runs (one earned) during his five-inning start. The right-hander walked three and struck out four. Horn then fired three scoreless innings in his California League debut before Riggs kept the Sixers off the board in the ninth to seal the victory.
The Giants took an early 1-0 lead with a single run in the bottom of the second against Inland Empire starter Erik Manoah. Franco led off with a double down the left field line before back-to-back walks to Bryce Johnson and Winn loaded the bases with none out. Franco then scored the first run of the night when the next batter, Kelvin Beltre, grounded into a double play.
Sano began his start with two scoreless innings before the 66ers pushed across a run without the benefit of a hit in the top of the third to tie the game. Consecutive walks to Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh started the inning. After Connor Justus popped out, a wild pick-off throw to second from Sano allowed the runners to move up to second and third. Moments later, Franklin Torres lifted a sacrifice fly to left as Adell came home to make it 1-1.
San Jose though immediately answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the third. Fargas was hit by a pitch to leadoff before promptly stealing second. Fargas was eventually at third base with two outs and scored the go-ahead run on a Dillon Dobson infield single to second.
Sano breezed through a 1-2-3 top of the fourth and had retired seven straight Inland Empire hitters until Adell launched a one-out solo home run in the top of the fifth. The homer, Adell's 12th of the season, tied the game 2-2.
The Giants, however, responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good. Fargas led off with a line drive home run to left center - his sixth round-tripper of the season - for a 3-2 San Jose advantage. Jacob Heyward then doubled before a Miller single put runners on the corners. Dobson was up next and he grounded into a 6-4-3 double play that scored Heyward to give the Giants a two-run lead.
With San Jose ahead by a 4-2 margin, Horn (3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) entered from the bullpen to begin the top of the sixth. The right-hander breezed through a 10-pitch sixth inning to begin his night. In the seventh, Richie Fecteau reached on an infield single to leadoff, but was thrown out at second on the play when he tried to advance on an errant throw to first. Franklin Navarro followed with another single, but Horn quickly came back to retire the next two hitters to end the inning. Horn then worked a 1-2-3 top of the eighth to maintain the two-run Giants advantage.
San Jose then added to their lead with a two-run bottom of the eighth. With one out, Johnson walked and stole second. Winn then crushed an opposite field two-run homer to right center giving the Giants a 6-2 cushion. The home run was Winn's ninth of the year.
Riggs (1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) surrendered a one-out single to David MacKinnon and a two-out single to Navarro in the top of the ninth, but with the potential tying run in the on deck circle, induced Alberto Triunfel to bounce into a force out ending the game.
Manoah (2-8) suffered the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) on six hits over 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and did not record a strikeout.
Notes
* The Giants improved to 2-2 on their homestand.
* Friday's contest was San Jose's first game against Inland Empire since the opening series of the season (April 5-8).
* Sano owns a 2.30 ERA (7 ER/27.1 IP) in six July appearances (five starts).
* The Giants out-hit the Sixers 9-7.
* Franco doubled twice to increase his season total to a team-leading 30 (third in Cal League).
* Horn was added to San Jose's roster from the Arizona Rookie League earlier Friday. Horn was drafted by the San Francisco Giants last month (39th round). He threw 24 out of his 29 pitches for strikes on Friday.
* In other roster moves Friday, pitcher Travis Perry also joined San Jose from the Arizona Rookie League. Pitcher Frank Rubio was transferred to Sacramento (AAA) and pitcher Connor Overton was placed on the disabled list.
On Deck
The Giants and 66ers continue their three-game series on Saturday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 6:00 PM. Mac Marshall (0-1, 2.17 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Inland Empire is expected to counter with Matt Ball (2-1, 3.35 ERA). Christmas in July weekend at the ballpark continues on Saturday! The Giants will wear Christmas-themed jerseys which fans can bid on during an in-game silent auction with proceeds benefiting Christmas in the Park. Additionally, the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a San Francisco Giants 60th Anniversary blanket while a spectacular fireworks show will follow the game. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.
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