CalL1 San Jose Giants

JetHawks Edge Giants in Series Opener, 4-3

Published on July 18, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


LANCASTER - The Lancaster JetHawks overcame an early two-run deficit and then held off San Jose late to earn a 4-3 victory over the Giants on Tuesday evening at The Hangar. Lancaster took the lead for good with a single run in the bottom of the fifth en route to claiming the opener of the three-game series. The loss dropped San Jose's second half record to 11-15.

Joe Panik (2-for-2) reached base in all four of his plate appearances on two singles and two walks while Alex Burg (1-for-3, HR, RBI) added a ninth-inning solo homer and Jarrett Parker (1-for-4, 2 RBI) drove home a pair of runs to lead the Giants offensively.

San Jose jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two runs in the top of the first inning against California League All-Star Bobby Doran. Carter Jurica began the game with a single before Panik walked. With two outs, Burg walked to load the bases and then Parker stepped to the plate and grounded a single into right field to score both Jurica and Panik.

Taylor Rogers started on the mound for the Giants and held the JetHawks off the scoreboard over the first two innings. Rogers pitched around a two-out walk in the bottom of the first and a two-out single in the second. The right-hander struck out four batters in the opening two frames.

Lancaster broke through against Rogers with an unearned run in the bottom of the third. Chan Moon led off with a single before Grant Hogue's grounder back to Rogers was mishandled by the pitcher for an error. After George Springer grounded into a fielder's choice with Hogue forced out at second, Erik Castro walked to load the bases. Domingo Santana followed with a groundout to second as Moon scored to cut the San Jose lead to 2-1. Rogers then retired Chris Epps on a groundout to leave runners at second and third.

The JetHawks tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as Enrique Hernandez led off with a double into the left center field gap, moved to third on a wild pitch and then scored when Rafael Valenzuela grounded out. Lancaster plated another run in the fifth inning to take their first lead of the night. Three straight walks to Hogue, Springer and Castro loaded the bases with none out before Santana grounded into a double play to third base allowing the go-ahead run to come home.

After Panik's leadoff single in the top of the third, Doran set down eight straight Giants batters. Panik broke the string with a leadoff walk in the sixth, but Doran quickly retired the next three hitters. In the top of the seventh, Brennan Metzger singled with one out to prompt a pitching chance, but JetHawks reliever Pat Urckfitz induced the next batter, Dan Burkhart, to hit into a 6-4-3 double play.

Shawn Sanford (2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) relieved Rogers to begin the bottom of the seventh and worked a 1-2-3 inning. In the top of the eighth, Panik singled with two outs, but was stranded at first base when Urckfitz set down Adam Duvall on a fly out. Lancaster then scored a key insurance run against Sanford in the bottom of the eighth. Consecutive walks to Santana and Epps started the inning before Hernandez executed a sacrifice bunt. Valenzuela was then intentionally walked to load the bases, but Roberto Pena followed with a bloop RBI single into left to make it 4-2.

In the top of the ninth, Burg clubbed a one-out solo homer to deep left center bringing San Jose to within 4-3. With two outs, Metzger reached on an error to bring the potential go-ahead run to the plate, however Urckfitz got Burkhart to bounce into a fielder's choice to shortstop as Metzger was forced out at second to end the game.

Doran (7-4) was credited with the win after tossing 6 1/3 innings with two runs (both earned) and four hits allowed. He walked three and struck out four. Doran retired 12 out of the last 14 batters that he faced. Urckfitz picked-up his seventh save of the season after surrendering one run over the last 2 2/3 innings.

Rogers (7-8) took the loss for the Giants yielding three runs (two earned) on four hits in six innings. The right-hander walked a season- high tying five and struck out six.

Notes: The Giants were attempting to win three straight games for the first time in the second half ... San Jose out-hit Lancaster by a 6-5 margin ... Burg's home run was his eighth of the season ... The Giants are 1-3 against the JetHawks this year ... San Jose pitching issued eight walks.

On Deck: The Giants and JetHawks continue their three-game series on Wednesday evening with first pitch at The Hangar scheduled for 7:00 PM. Jack Snodgrass (7-3, 4.27 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Lancaster is expected to counter with Nick Tropeano (1-1, 4.26 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:30 PM.

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California League Stories from July 18, 2012


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