CalL San Jose Giants

Giants Win Seesaw Battle with Fresno, 11-7

Published on August 12, 2023 under California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release


The San Jose Giants continued to surge offensively pounding out 16 hits on Friday night en route to an 11-7 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies at Excite Ballpark. P.J. Hilson and Anthony Rodriguez each smacked two-run home runs while Turner Hill collected four hits from the leadoff spot to lead the way for the Giants at the plate. With the win, San Jose (59-47 overall, 19-21 second half) has now claimed three out of the first four games in the series against division-leading Fresno.

Hill (4-for-4, SB) reached base in all five of his plate appearances with four singles and a walk while Hilson (1-for-2, HR, 3 RBI) and Rodriguez (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) each knocked in three runs. Diego Velasquez (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI), Alexander Suarez (3-for-4, RBI) and Tanner O'Tremba (2-for-3, RBI) also finished with multi-hit games. The Giants have 47 hits over the first four games in the series and are batting a robust .332 as a team in the month of August (6-4 record).

Friday's contest began in a back-and-forth manner with the two teams trading the lead. After the Grizzlies jumped out with a single tally in the top of the second, San Jose responded in the bottom of the inning. With one out, O'Tremba reached on an error and then Rodriguez stepped to the plate with two outs and blasted a two-run home run to deep left center. The round-tripper was Rodriguez's fourth of the season and it gave the Giants a 2-1 lead.

Fresno though came right back with two runs of their own in the top of the third against San Jose starter Manuel Mercedes. Jake Snider drew a leadoff walk before Bryant Betancourt singled. After Dyan Jorge grounded out, Andy Perez's RBI single tied the game 2-2. Daniel Amaral followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Grizzlies back ahead by a 3-2 margin.

The Giants, however, answered with a two-run bottom of the third inning. Consecutive singles from Suarez and Hill started the frame before both runners came home when Velasquez laced a one-out double to the fence in right center. The double was Velasquez's team-leading 26th of the season as San Jose moved back in front 4-3.

The seesaw battle continued with two more Fresno runs in the top of the fourth on back-to-back two-out RBI singles from Betancourt and Jorge as the Grizzlies reclaimed the lead at 5-4. The Giants though used another big fly in the bottom of the inning to move in front for good. After an O'Tremba leadoff infield single, Hilson came up and launched a two-run home run to left center. The long ball was the ninth of the season for Hilson (and his fifth in the last eight games) as San Jose jumped in front 6-5.

Tyler Vogel relieved Mercedes to begin the top of the fifth and initially fired two perfect innings to keep the Giants ahead by a run. Vogel struck out one hitter in the fifth before punching out the side in the top of the sixth. San Jose then kept the pressure on with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. O'Tremba and Hilson were both hit by a pitch to start the inning before they moved up a base when Rodriguez grounded out. Back-to-back infield singles from Rosario and Suarez then each brought in a run as the lead grew to 8-5.

Fresno got one back in the top of the seventh on a Perez one-out RBI triple, but with runners at the corners, Vogel induced Jesus Bugarin to ground into a key inning-ending double play to maintain a two-run cushion. The Giants then plated three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to extend their lead. A leadoff single from Hill - his fourth hit of the night - started the inning. With one out, Velasquez singled before Onil Perez drew a walk. O'Tremba then singled home the first run of the inning to make it 9-6. Hilson followed with a sacrifice fly as another run scored before Rodriguez's RBI single brought home the 11th and final San Jose run of the evening.

Cody Tucker closed out the game for the Giants pitching the eighth and ninth innings with only one run allowed and four strikeouts. The Grizzlies scored once in the top of the ninth as Snider led off with a triple and came home on a passed ball to bring the game to its final margin of 11-7.

Vogel (6-7) picked-up the win after limiting Fresno to one hit and one run over his three innings of work. He walked two and struck out five. The bullpen duo of Vogel and Tucker combined for nine strikeouts over the final five innings (two runs allowed). San Jose's bullpen has an 0.84 ERA through the first four games of the current series (2 ER surrendered in 21 1/3 innings).

The Giants out-hit the Grizzlies 16-9. San Jose was 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position. San Jose improved to 11-3 in their last 14 home games.

P.J. Hilson has hit five home runs over his last eight games

The Giants continue their series against Fresno on Saturday evening with first pitch at Excite Ballpark set for 6:00 PM. Seth Corry is San Jose's scheduled starting pitcher. Visit sjgiants.com for tickets.

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California League Stories from August 12, 2023


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