CalL1 San Jose Giants

Mavericks Use Seven Home Runs To Rally Past Giants

Published on April 27, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


The High Desert Mavericks blasted seven home runs in a spirited 11-8 comeback victory over the San Jose Giants on Sunday afternoon at Stater Bros. Stadium. In the finale of a four-game series, High Desert's Alex Liddi, Joe Dunigan and Kuo Hui Lo each connected for a pair of homers with Liddi's two-run shot in the seventh giving the Mavericks the lead for good. The Giants, who were unable to hold a five-run lead and earned a split in the series, saw their overall record drop to 12-6.

Buster Posey (3-for-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI) and Darren Ford (2-for-4, HR, RBI) both homered to lead an 11-hit San Jose offensive attack. Brandon Crawford (2-for-4, RBI) also contributed a multiple-hit game at the plate.

The Giants carried a 6-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before reliever Mitch Lively surrendered a pair of solo homers to Lo and Juan Diaz cutting the San Jose advantage in half.

Lively began the bottom of the sixth by allowing a single to Edilio Colina before he was removed from the game in favor of Adam Cowart. Cowart quickly retired Liddi on a fly out before a ground-rule double off the bat of Ron Garth put runners at second and third. Dunigan followed by crushing the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in right center field for a three-run homer and a 7-6 High Desert lead. The home run was Dunigan's second of the afternoon and put the Mavericks in front for the first time.

San Jose responded with two runs of their own in the top of the seventh inning to reclaim the lead. Consecutive singles from Posey and Angel Villalona started the frame before Roger Kieschnick bounced into a fielder's choice forcing Villalona at second base. After Thomas Neal drew a walk to load the bases, Trent Kline was called out on strikes. Vladimir Frias was up next and he grounded a ball down the left field line for a double to score Posey and Kieschnick for an 8-7 Giants advantage. However, Neal was thrown out at the plate as he tried to score from first base on the play.

The Mavericks though once again used the long ball to move back in front in the bottom of the seventh. With Cowart still on the mound, Diaz led off with a single before back-to-back ground outs. Liddi then belted a 1-0 pitch over the fence in left center field for a two-run homer and a 9-8 High Desert lead. The home run was Liddi's second of the contest and team-leading sixth of the season.

The Giants threatened in the top of the eighth inning when Crawford and Nick Noonan drew back-to-back one-out walks. However, reliever Anthony Varvaro was able to pitch out of trouble stranding the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base with a strikeout of Posey before Villalona grounded out.

The Mavericks scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth when Lo hit a two-run homer off of Wilmin Rodriguez. All 11 of High Desert's runs on Sunday came from home runs.

The Giants managed a two-out single in the ninth inning from Kline, but Frias followed by grounding into a fielder's choice to end the game.

Cowart (1-2) suffered the loss out of the San Jose bullpen after yielding four runs (all earned) on six hits over two innings.

The Giants quickly jumped in front with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning as Ford began the game by drawing a walk before Noonan reached on a one-out single and then Posey scored both runners with a double into the left field corner.

In the top of the third, Crawford plated a run with an RBI single to make it 3-0. Then two batters later, Posey launched a two-run homer to straightaway center field extending the San Jose lead to 5-0.

Clayton Tanner started on the mound for the Giants and lasted just 3 1/3 innings with six hits and two runs (both earned) allowed. The left-hander walked three and struck out two. Tanner stranded five Mavericks baserunners in the first two frames, before surrendering a pair of solo homers to Liddi and Dunigan in the bottom of the third.

Ford gave San Jose a 6-2 lead in the top of the fourth with a solo homer down the left field line. The home run was Ford's first of the year.

Notes: High Desert leads the California League with a .312 batting average and 27 home runs ... The Mavericks out-hit the Giants by a 17-11 margin ... Tanner, Lively and Cowart each allowed two home runs ... In addition to Cowart, Lively (1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO), Rodriguez (1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) and T.J. Brewer (2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) pitched out of the San Jose bullpen ... Kieschnick (0-for-5) saw his seven-game hitting streak snapped ... The teams combined for 11 pitchers ... Sunday marked San Jose's first loss this season in the final game of a series (4-1).

On Deck: The Giants continue their road trip on Monday evening with the opener of a three-game series against the Lancaster JetHawks. First pitch at Clear Channel Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Tim Alderson (0-0, 3.14 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Lancaster is expected to counter with Chris Hicks (2-1, 3.07 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from April 27, 2009


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