Harris Powers Giants to Victory in First Half Finale
Published on June 17, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
VISALIA - Devin Harris hit two home runs and collected five RBI's to lead the San Jose Giants to a 10-8 win over the Visalia Rawhide on Sunday afternoon at Recreation Park. With the victory, the Giants finish the first half with a California League-best 43-27 record.
Harris (3-for-3, 2 HR, 5 RBI), who was named to the California League All-Star team earlier in the day, hit his team-leading 15th and 16th home runs of the season. Myles Schroder (2-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI) also contributed a pair of hits and three RBI's in the win.
The back-and-forth game saw Visalia comeback three times before San Jose went ahead for good in the top of the seventh. With the score tied 8-8, Chris Lofton led off the top of the seventh with a single, moved to second on a balk and scored when Eliezer Zambrano ripped a one-out double into the left field corner.
Harris extended the lead to 10-8 with a solo home run in the top of the eighth - his second round-tripper of the game.
Danny Sandbrink (1-1) was credited with the win out of the bullpen despite allowing the Rawhide to score the tying run in the bottom of the sixth. After the Giants reclaimed the lead, Cody Hall (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO), Bryce Bandilla (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO) and Josh Osich (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) each tossed a hitless inning to seal the victory. Osich earned his ninth save of the season.
San Jose took an early 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Harris drew a walk to force home the first run before Schroder doubled into the right field corner to score two more.
Visalia's Matt Helm connected for a solo homer in the bottom of the second off of Giants starter Kelvin Marte to bring the Rawhide to within 3-1, however San Jose responded in the top of the third when Harris lined a solo homer to left.
Visalia then sent eight batters to the plate against Marte in the bottom of the third and scored four runs on four hits to take their first lead of the game at 5-4. Sean Jamieson's two-RBI single with one out tied the game before Helm grounded out to score the go-ahead run.
The seesaw affair continued when the Giants scored three runs in the top of the fifth to take back the lead. Back-to-back one-out RBI singles from Harris and Schroder put San Jose in front by a 6-5 score. Two batters later, Shawn Payne delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 7-5.
The Rawhide though answered in the bottom of the fifth as Jamieson reached base on a two-out error before Helm launched a home run to right center field. Helm's second home run of the game tied the score 7-7.
Marte, who received a no-decision, was charged with a season-high seven runs (five earned) on seven hits in five innings of work. He walked two and struck out one.
The teams traded runs in the sixth as two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for San Jose in the top of the inning before Harris hit a sacrifice fly. Facing Sandbrink, Visalia's Evan Marzilli walked with one out in the bottom of the inning, advanced to third on Kevin Medrano's single and scored when Gerson Montilla hit a sacrifice fly.
Matt Sample (0-1), who entered the game to begin the top of the seventh with the score tied 8-8, was saddled with the loss for the Rawhide. Sample allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits over 1 1/3 innings of work.
After the Giants took the lead for good, Hall set down Visalia 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh. In the eighth, Bandilla issued a leadoff walk to Steven Rodriguez before a one-out walk to Marzilli put the tying run on base. Bandilla though pitched out of trouble when he struck out Medrano before Montilla flied out to center.
Osich then breezed through a perfect bottom of the ninth to finish the game.
Zambrano (2-for-4, 2B, RBI), John Polonius (2-for-2) and Brock Bond (2-for-5) also finished with two hits apiece for San Jose.
Notes: The teams split the four-game series ... The Giants lost only one road series for the entire first half ... San Jose is 24-11 on the road this season ... The Giants out-hit the Rawhide 12-8 on Sunday ... Harris also leads the team with 48 RBI's ... San Jose finishes the first half four games ahead of Visalia (39-31) for the top spot in the North Division.
On Deck: The San Jose Giants will host the California-Carolina League All-Star Game on Tuesday evening at Municipal Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 PM. San Jose Giants to participate in the game include pitchers Ty Blach, Edwin Escobar and Josh Osich, catcher Jeff Arnold, first baseman Angel Villalona and outfielder Devin Harris. Tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com. The game will also be televised live on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104. San Jose begins the second half on Thursday night with the opener of a four-game series in Stockton.
California League Stories from June 17, 2013
- Quakes Finish First Half with Home Loss - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Harris Powers Giants to Victory in First Half Finale - San Jose Giants
- Updated Rosters for 2013 California-Carolina League All-Star Game Announced - San Jose Giants
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