CalL San Jose Giants

Grizzlies Rally Late To Take Series From Giants

Published on August 8, 2022 under California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release


For the second straight night, the Fresno Grizzlies rallied in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure a comeback win over the Giants. On Sunday, it was a six-run frame in the eighth from Fresno as San Jose fell by an 8-4 score in the finale of the six-game series. With the setback, the Giants (58-44, 18-18 second half) dropped four of six to the Grizzlies this week.

Aeverson Arteaga (2-for-5, 2 2B) doubled twice while Jared Dupere (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) drove in a pair of runs to lead San Jose offensively in defeat.

Matt Mikulski started on the mound for the Giants and fired three scoreless innings in his outing. The left-hander went 6 up and 6 down over the first two innings before pitching out of a bases loaded, none out jam in the bottom of the third to keep the game scoreless.

Fresno then took a 1-0 lead when Braxton Fulford belted a solo home run to deep center off San Jose piggyback reliever Seth Lonsway in the bottom of the fourth. The Giants though immediately answered with a single run in the top of the fifth to tie the game. Yorlis Rodriguez led off with a single and stole second before a two-out walk to Anyesber Sivira. Grant McCray then hit a grounder to second that was misplayed by the Grizzlies' Adael Amador for an error allowing Rodriguez to score the tying run.

Fresno, however, went back in front in the bottom of the fifth with another run off of Lonsway. Yorvis Torrealba drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a groundout and took third on Amador's single. Juan Brito then produced an RBI groundout as Torrealba came home to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead.

The seesaw affair then continued with San Jose plating single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take their first lead of the night. In the top of the sixth, Dupere led off with a double to deep right center, moved to third on a Victor Bericoto groundout and scored the tying run on Rodriguez's sacrifice fly. An inning later, it was Dupere driving in the go-ahead run. With two outs, Arteaga hit a double to deep right before Dupere stepped to the plate and lined an RBI single into right for a 3-2 Giants advantage.

Meanwhile, Lonsway settled in with back-to-back hitless innings in the sixth and seventh. Lonsway completed his outing by retiring the final six batters that he faced.

San Jose though, once again, was unable to hold off Fresno late. With the score still at 3-2, Julio Rodriguez was summoned from the bullpen to begin the bottom of the eighth. Yanquiel Fernandez led off the inning with a single into right center. Juan Guerrero then hit a slow grounder to shortstop that Arteaga fielded, but threw away to first. The two-base error allowed Fernandez to take third and Guerrero to move into second. A sacrifice fly from Fulford followed to tie the score 3-3. After consecutive walks to the next two hitters, AJ Lewis and EJ Andrews Jr., loaded the bases, Torrealba blooped a single into shallow right to bring home Guerrero for a 4-3 Grizzlies lead. The rally then continued when new pitcher Tyler Myrick issued a bases loaded walk to Cuba Bess as the Fresno advantage grew to 5-3. Amador followed with a sacrifice fly to plate the fourth run of the inning. Then after Brito walked to again the load the bases, Fernandez's high pop up behind the pitcher's mound dropped in-between four Giants infielders, which brought home two more runs and put the Grizzlies ahead by an 8-3 margin. Fresno sent 11 batters to the plate during the bottom of the eighth and scored six runs on three hits with four walks, one error and two sacrifice flies.

San Jose scored once in the top of the ninth, but would fall well short in their comeback effort. With one out, McCray singled before Arteaga doubled to put runners on second and third. Dupere then produced an RBI groundout to bring the Giants within 8-4. A walk to Bericoto followed, but with the potential tying run in the on deck circle, Carter Williams flied out to center to end the game.

GIANTS NOTES

Trouble Holding Leads: With losses the last two nights, the Giants are now 46-6 this season when leading after seven innings. Five of the six defeats have come against Fresno.

Inside The Box Score: The Grizzlies won on Sunday despite being out-hit by the Giants 10-7. San Jose was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base. Carter Williams (2-for-4) and Garrett Frechette (2-for-4) also had multi-hit games for the Giants. Four of the eight runs allowed by San Jose were unearned. The Giants issued nine walks - one off their season-high.

Series Loss: The Giants lost their first series since dropping five of six games during their previous trip to Fresno from July 4-10.

Seeing Double: With a pair of two-baggers on Sunday, Aeverson Arteaga now has 27 doubles this season - only one off the California League lead (Fresno's Yanquiel Fernandez has 28).

Mound Morsels: Matt Mikulski (3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO) was making his first start since June 26. His previous four outings were all out of the bullpen. Seth Lonsway pitched four innings of long relief on Sunday and allowed two runs (both earned) and two hits. He walked four and did not record a strikeout.

On Deck: Following an off day, the Giants return to Excite Ballpark for a 12-game homestand against the Stockton Ports (August 9-14) and Inland Empire 66ers (August 16-21). It marks San Jose's longest homestand of the season. Tuesday's series opener versus the Ports is a 6:30 PM first pitch. Visit sjgiants.com for a full list of the upcoming promotions for the homestand and to purchase tickets.

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California League Stories from August 8, 2022


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