CalL1 San Jose Giants

Late Run Lifts Giants to 2-1 Win over 66ers

Published on June 14, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE, CA - An eighth-inning run broke a tie on Monday night to lift the San Jose Giants to a 2-1 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers at Municipal Stadium. Robbie Garvey scored from third base while Ronnie Jebavy was in a rundown between first and second to give the Giants their first lead of the game. The win came in the opener of a seven-game homestand for San Jose (36-27).

Jordan Johnson worked seven dominant innings for the Giants to start the game on Monday. The right-hander allowed just one run and five hits during his 92-pitch performance. Johnson matched a season-high with seven strikeouts did not issue a walk.

Jose Reyes (2-1) was credited with the win after tossing a scoreless top of the eighth out of the bullpen while Rodolfo Martinez pitched the ninth inning for his league-leading 18th save.

Garvey (2-for-3, 2B) had two hits and scored both of San Jose's runs to lead the way offensively.

The 66ers took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Wade Wass launched a solo home run to deep left center off of Johnson. The homer was Wass' fifth of the season.

Inland Empire though wouldn't score again for the remainder of the contest. Johnson breezed through 1-2-3 third and fourth innings throwing a total of just 15 pitches over the two frames. Ayendy Perez singled with one out in the fifth to break a string of nine straight batters retired, but was later thrown out at second attempting to steal. Johnson then worked a perfect top of the sixth to keep the deficit at a single run.

Meanwhile, the Giants managed only two baserunners over the first five innings against Sixers starter Jeremy Rhoades - a second-inning single from Jonah Arenado and a third-inning walk to Jebavy. San Jose though finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth. Garvey led off with a double into the right center field gap before moving to third on Jebavy's sacrifice bunt. Steven Duggar followed by grounding out as Garvey held at third, but C.J Hinojosa then stepped to the plate and laced a line drive single into left center scoring the tying run.

Johnson returned to the mound in the top of the seventh and saw Inland Empire immediately load the bases with none out. Taylor Ward led off with a single before Wass hit a grounder up the middle. Hinojosa made a diving grab at shortstop, but his flip to second, in an attempt to force out Ward, was dropped by Richard Rodriguez for an error. Zach Houchins then grounded a single into left to load the bases. Johnson though would pitch out of the jam and keep the game tied. The Giants starter registered back-to-back swinging strikeouts of Jeff Boehm and Perez before Zach Welz flied out to deep center to end the inning.

Rhoades tossed seven strong innings for the 66ers yielding just one run and three hits. He walked one, struck out three and threw only 66 pitches.

Reyes (1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) relieved Johnson to begin the top of the eighth with the score still tied and quickly ran into trouble. Consecutive singles from Josh Delph and David Fletcher put runners on first and second with none out. Hutton Moyer followed with a fielder's choice grounder as Fletcher was forced out at second and Delph, the potential go-ahead run, moved to third. Ward though flied out to shallow right and then Wass lined out to center ending the threat.

San Jose then took the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Facing Inland Empire reliever Jordan Piche, the rally began with a one-out single from Garvey. Jebavy was up next and he blooped a single into shallow right as Garvey easily advanced to third. Jebavy though rounded first base too far and saw the right fielder Perez quickly throw the ball to first. But with Jebavy caught in a rundown, and eventually tagged out, Garvey sprinted home and scored without a throw to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.

In the ninth, Martinez yielded a one-out single to Boehm before striking out Perez. Welz then walked to advance the potential tying run to second, but Delph followed by grounding out to first to end the game.

Piche (2-3) was saddled with the loss out of the Sixers bullpen.

Notes:

* San Jose has won back-to-back games for the first time since June 2-3. Their last two wins have both been by 2-1 margins.

* Johnson's seven innings pitched matched a season-high.

* Inland Empire out-hit the Giants 8-5.

* The 66ers were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base over the final three innings.

* Brandon Bednar's (0-for-2, BB) hitting streak was snapped at eight games.

* San Jose is 9-7 in one-run games this season.

* Inland Empire lost their sixth consecutive game.

* The final game time of two hours and 11 minutes was the Giants' quickest nine-inning game this season to date.

* Pitcher Martin Agosta (forearm) was placed on the 7-day disabled list earlier Monday.

* San Jose (36-27) remained six games behind Visalia (42-21) for the top spot in the first half North Division standings. Seven games remain in the half.

On Deck: The Giants and 66ers continue their three-game series on Tuesday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 6:30 PM. D.J. Snelten (3-5, 4.42 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Inland Empire is expected to counter with Jake Jewell (0-7, 7.16 ERA). The San Jose Giants have teamed up with the Inland Empire 66ers for a special night tomorrow to honor victims of the tragic San Bernardino shooting. The Giants will wear special #SBStrong jerseys and there will be a silent jersey auction during the game, with proceeds going to the San Bernardino United Way Relief Fund and Arrowhead United Way. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from June 14, 2016


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