CalL1 San Jose Giants

Late Lead Slips Away in 6-5 Loss to Visalia

Published on June 24, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


VISALIA - The San Jose Giants were unable to hold one-run leads in the seventh and eighth innings as the Visalia Rawhide rallied for a 6-5 win on Sunday afternoon at Recreation Park. A bases loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth tied the game before Jon Griffin's sacrifice fly put Visalia in front as the Rawhide earned a split of the four- game series.

Ryan Lollis (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) had three hits, including his fourth home run of the season, to lead the Giants offensively. Joe Panik (2- for-3, RBI, SB) added two singles and scored three runs.

The back-and-forth game saw San Jose take a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. Giants starter Ryan Bradley recorded the first out of the frame, but then allowed a solo home run to Griffin to tie the score 4-4. Bobby Borchering followed with a double off the wall, but new pitcher Chris Wilson (2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) struck out Keon Broxton and retired Garrett Weber on a fly out to end the inning.

San Jose then reclaimed the lead with a single run in the top of the eighth. Panik led off with a line drive single to left before Lollis hammered a double into the left center field gap putting runners at second and third. Ricky Oropesa followed with a high fly ball that bounced off the bottom of the wall in left center field for another double as Panik scored to give the Giants a 5-4 lead. Lollis though was only able to advance to third on the hit and ultimately didn't score as San Jose failed to add to their lead. Adam Duvall was up next and he struck out swinging and after Jarrett Parker was intentionally walked, Bobby Haney bounced into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

Hector Correa (1/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) relieved Wilson to begin the bottom of the eighth and struck out Gerson Montilla to start the inning, but then issued a four-pitch walk to Tyson Van Winkle. Raoul Torrez followed with a single to put runners on the corners and then Ryan LaPensee walked to load the bases. Mike Freeman was up next and he walked on five pitches to force home the tying run. Phil McCormick (2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) was then summoned from the bullpen, but Griffin hit a sacrifice fly to right for a 6-5 Rawhide advantage.

In the top of the ninth, Ydwin Villegas singled with one out to put the potential tying run on base, however Chris Lofton struck out and Panik grounded out to end the game.

Blake Cooper (2-4) was credited with the win out of the Visalia bullpen after pitching the top of the eighth. D.J. Johnson worked the ninth inning for his first save of the year.

Correa (1-2) was saddled with the loss for the Giants.

The Rawhide jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs against Bradley in the bottom of the second. Consecutive singles from Weber and Montilla started the inning before Torrez's one-out single loaded the bases. LaPensee then reached on an infield single to third plating Weber with the first run of the contest. Bradley followed by issuing a walk to Freeman bringing home Montilla to make it 2-0. Bradley though was able to limit the damage in the inning as Griffin then hit into a double play.

San Jose immediately responded with three runs in the top of the third inning against Visalia starter Anthony Meo. With two outs, Lofton reached on an infield single before taking second on a wild pick-off throw. Lofton then scored when the next batter, Panik, singled sharply up the middle. Lollis followed with a two-run homer down the right field line giving the Giants a 3-2 lead.

The Rawhide tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as Montilla led off with a single, advanced to second on Van Winkle's single, moved to third on Torrez' sacrifice bunt and scored when LaPensee grounded out.

In the top of the sixth, San Jose scored a run without a hit to reclaim the lead at 4-3. Panik drew a leadoff walk before moving to second on a one-out wild pitch and then taking third when the catcher's throw bounced into center field. Then with two outs and Duvall at the plate, Panik initially tried to score on a pitch that bounced away from home. Panik though stopped halfway between third and home and was in a rundown. However during the rundown, the third baseman Torrez, who had the ball, slipped and fell to the ground allowing Panik to score the go-ahead run. Panik was awarded a stolen base of home.

Bradley struck out the side in a scoreless bottom of the sixth before giving up the tying solo homer in the seventh. Bradley worked 6 1/3 innings with four runs (all earned) and 10 hits allowed. He walked two and struck out a career-high seven.

Notes: Visalia out-hit San Jose by an 11-9 margin ... Lofton (2-for-5) also finished with more than one hit for the Giants ... Lollis has homered in back-to-back games ... Panik was 8-for-16 (.500) with two homers, six runs scored and eight RBI's during the four-game series ... San Jose is 5-11 against the Rawhide this season ... The #1 through #4 batters of Lofton, Panik, Lollis and Oropesa combined for eight of the nine Giants hits ... San Jose's overall record dropped to 40-34.

On Deck: The Giants begin a six-game homestand on Monday evening with the first of three straight contests against the Stockton Ports at Municipal Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Shawn Sanford (5-4, 4.72 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Josh Bowman (1-6, 4.35 ERA). Tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com. The game will also be televised on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104.

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California League Stories from June 24, 2012


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