Late Rally Falls Short in 8-6 Loss to Blaze
September 7, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Bakersfield Blaze built a six-run lead and then withstood a late Giants comeback to pick-up an 8-6 win over San Jose on Sunday evening at Sam Lynn Ballpark. The defeat was the third straight for the Giants (72-67) to open the series.
Despite the loss, San Jose (42-27) remains tied with Visalia (42-27) for the second half North Division lead. By virtue of the Rawhide owning the tiebreaker, the Giants will need to win their regular season finale on Monday afternoon and have Visalia lose their game versus Lake Elsinore to claim the second half crown.
Brian Ragira (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) smacked a three-run home run and Daniel Carbonell (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) finished with a multi-hit game to lead San Jose offensively on Sunday.
The Blaze jumped out early scoring three runs in the bottom of the first against Giants starter Jordan Johnson. Back-to-back walks to Aaron Barbosa and Nelson Ward began the frame before a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Tyler O'Neill then drove a high fly ball to deep left that was lost in the lights by Carbonell. The ball bounced off the bottom of the wall as both runs scored and O'Neill raced into third with a triple. Kyle Petty then delivered an RBI groundout to make it 3-0.
Bakersfield starter Brett Ash didn't allow a hit in the contest until Carbonell doubled with two outs in the top of the fourth. Angel Villalona followed with a line drive single down the left field line plating Carbonell with the first Giants run of the game. However, Villalona was thrown out at second base on the play attempting to stretch the hit into a double.
Johnson settled down and had retired six straight Blaze hitters until Justin Seager connected for a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth for a 4-1 margin. Johnson appeared poised for a quick bottom of the fifth as he retired the first two hitters of the inning. O'Neill then struck out, but reached safely on a passed ball to extend the inning. Petty was up next and he laced a double into the right center field gap to score O'Neill making it 5-1. Johnson then struck out Chantz Mack, but a wild pitch allowed the batter to reach. Rayder Ascanio followed by greeting new pitcher Jeff Soptic with an RBI single up the middle pushing the Bakersfield lead to 6-1.
Three straight two-out singles from Brandon Bednar, Christian Arroyo and Carbonell produced a run for San Jose in the top of the sixth, but the Blaze came back with two of their own in the bottom of the inning. Seager led off with a double off of Soptic (1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) before moving to third on a passed ball. Daniel Torres then hit a sacrifice fly to right plating Seager. Two batters later, Ward belted a solo homer to right for an 8-2 Bakersfield cushion.
The Giants got back into the game with one swing in the top of the seventh. Tyler Horan led off with a double before Aramis Garcia drew a walk. Ragira then stepped to the plate and smashed a three-run homer to straightaway left. The home run, Ragira's 10th of the season, brought San Jose to within 8-5. The hit also knocked Ash out of the game as Aaron Brooks was summoned from the Blaze bullpen. Seth Harrison was up next for the Giants and he promptly doubled into the left center field gap. A John Polonius groundout then advanced Harrison to third before Bednar grounded out to score the run. A four-run inning for San Jose trimmed the Bakersfield lead to 8-6.
The Giants though would get no closer in the contest. Horan drew a two-out walk in the top of the eighth, but Emilio Pagan was then summoned from the bullpen and he struck out Garcia to end the inning. In the ninth, Pagan struck out Ragira and retired Harrison on a groundout for the first two outs. Polonius singled to right bringing the potential tying run to the plate, but Bednar then bounced out back to the mound to finish the game.
Ash (9-8) was credited with the win after tossing six-plus innings with five runs (all earned) and seven hits allowed. He walked two and struck out two. Pagan earned his eighth save.
Johnson (2-3) was saddled with the loss despite striking out a career-high 10 over 4 2/3 innings. He was charged with six runs (four earned). Johnson surrendered five hits and walked three.
Notes:
* The Giants have lost three games in a row for the first time since August 9-12.
* Bakersfield out-hit San Jose 10-9.
* Ragira hit his first home run since July 31. It was his 30th career homer with the San Jose Giants (2014-15).
* Dan Slania (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) and Ian Gardeck (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO) also each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
* Giants pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts.
* San Jose fell to 3-8 at Sam Lynn Ballpark this season.
* The Giants (72-67) fell one game behind Stockton (73-66) for the first Wild Card spot in the North Division. A San Jose win and a Ports loss on Monday would also give the Giants home field advantage over Stockton in their Mini-Series match up.
On Deck: The Giants close out the regular season on Monday afternoon with a 12:00 PM game against the Bakersfield Blaze at Sam Lynn Ballpark. Jarret Leverett (0-0, 3.38 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Bakersfield is expected to counter with Scott DeCecco (2-3, 3.79 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from September 7, 2015
- Ports Claim Number Two Playoff Seed - Stockton Ports
- Giants Suffer 4-2 Loss in Regular Season Finale - San Jose Giants
- San Jose Giants Playoffs Begin at Municipal Stadium Wednesday, September 9 - San Jose Giants
- Blaze Finish Season with Sweep of San Jose - Bakersfield Blaze
- Late Rally Falls Short in 8-6 Loss to Blaze - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Rally for Win over Inland Empire - Inland Empire 66ers
- Quakes Roll Early, Down 66ers - Inland Empire 66ers
- Pair of Homers Power Blaze to Fourth Straight Win, 8-6 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Quakes Win Again, Finish Regular Season Monday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Ports Shutout Nuts 3-0 - Modesto Nuts
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