Miller Powers Giants Past Rawhide
May 29, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - Jalen Miller homered twice, including a tiebreaking three-run blast in the bottom of the sixth, to lead the Giants to a 9-6 series-opening win over the Visalia Rawhide on Monday evening at Municipal Stadium. San Jose rallied from a three-run deficit in the contest to snap their season-high four-game losing streak. The victory also moved the Giants (27-24) to within three games of first-place Stockton in the first half North Division race.
Miller (3-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI) hit a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth to spark the comeback effort before his go-ahead home run in the sixth. It marked the first multi-homer game of his career. Frandy De La Rosa (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) also homered while Matt Winn (3-for-3, 2B, RBI) added three hits as part of a perfect night at the plate. The Miller-De La Rosa duo combined to drive in eight out of San Jose's nine runs.
The seesaw battle saw the Giants jump out early on De La Rosa's home run in the bottom of the second. With one out, Winn singled before De La Rosa stepped to the plate and launched a two-run home run to straightaway center. The homer, De La Rosa's sixth of the season, put San Jose in front by a 2-0 margin.
Melvin Adon started on the mound for the Giants and began his outing with a pair of scoreless innings before Visalia's Marcus Wilson smacked a solo home run in the top of the third to trim the San Jose lead to 2-1. The Rawhide then tied the game with a single run in the fourth off of Adon. Drew Ellis led off with a double before Pavin Smith singled to put runners on the corners. Adon bounced back with consecutive strikeouts of the next two hitters, but with Luis Alejandro Basabe at the plate, Smith got himself into a rundown between first and second allowing Ellis to score from third with the tying run.
The Giants briefly reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Sandro Fabian reached on an error with one out, moved to second on a Winn walk and scored when De La Rosa lined a single into right. Visalia though came back with a four-run top of the fifth to take a 6-3 lead. With one out, Juan Silverio doubled before Wilson walked. Camden Duzenack then hit a slow grounder to shortstop that was mishandled by Brandon Van Horn for an error. The miscue loaded the bases and ended Adon's night. Peter Lannoo was summoned from the bullpen, but he promptly allowed an infield single to Daulton Varsho as Silverio scored to tie the game 3-3. Lannoo then issued back-to-back bases loaded walks to Ellis and Smith putting the Rawhide ahead 5-3. Ramon Hernandez followed with an RBI groundout to make it 6-3. Visalia sent all nine of their batters to the plate in the top of the fifth scoring four runs on just two hits.
San Jose would immediately respond though with three runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Miller led off with a home run to left to cut the deficit to 6-4. Then with one out, Wander Franco reached on an error before Fabian singled. Winn then greeted new pitcher Robby Sexton with an RBI double down the left field line to bring the Giants within 6-5. De La Rosa followed with an RBI groundout as Fabian scored to tie the game 6-6.
The Rawhide threatened against Lannoo in the top of the sixth as Wilson singled with two outs before Duzenack doubled off the left field wall. Wilson attempted to score from the first on the Duzenack hit, but was thrown out at the plate on a perfectly executed relay home by San Jose to end the inning.
The Giants then took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth. Consecutive singles from Kevin Rivera and Johneshwy Fargas started the inning before Miller launched a three-run home run to deep left center. The homer, Miller's second of the game, made the score 9-6.
Lannoo then breezed through a 1-2-3 top of the seventh before Caleb Baragar (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) struck out two batters in a scoreless eighth inning. In the ninth, Dylan Rheault (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO) issued a leadoff walk, but came back to retire the next three batters to seal the San Jose victory.
Lannoo (1-1) picked-up his first win after limiting Visalia to one run over 2 2/3 innings of relief. Lannoo gave up three hits, walked two and struck out two during his outing. Rheault collected his third save of the year.
Sexton (0-1) suffered the loss for the Rawhide after surrendering Miller's go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Notes
* Monday was the opener of a season-high 10-game homestand for the Giants.
* San Jose improved to a league-best 14-9 at home this year.
* Miller has hit six home runs this season - tied with Fabian and De La Rosa for the team lead. He's hit safely in 17 out of his last 19 games and is now batting .311 this season - tied for seventh in the California League.
* The Giants out-hit the Rawhide 12-10.
* Adon pitched 4 1/3 innings with five runs (four earned) and seven hits allowed. He walked two and struck out five.
* Winn broke out of an 0-for-16 slump with his three hits.
* Monday marked the first time since May 14 that San Jose scored more than five runs in a game.
* The Giants moved into a second-place tie with Visalia in the North Division standings. 19 games remain in the first half.
On Deck
The Giants and Rawhide continue their four-game series on Tuesday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 6:30 PM. Logan Webb (1-2, 1.80 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose. Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Shelby Miller is expected to make the start for Visalia on a rehabilitation assignment. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from May 29, 2018
- 66ers Down JetHawks 7-3, Kruger Notches Four-Hit Day - Inland Empire 66ers
- Ports Fall 12-10 in Home Run Derby - Stockton Ports
- Miller Powers Giants Past Rawhide - San Jose Giants
- Ten Homers Sail out During 12-10 Win - Modesto Nuts
- Madison Bumgarner Scheduled to Pitch May 31 with the San Jose Giants - San Jose Giants
- Miller, De La Rosa Blast Giants Past Rawhide - Visalia Rawhide
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