Missed Opportunities Cost Giants in 11-Inning Loss
August 12, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - Visalia's Kevin Cron hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the top of the 11th as part of a two-run inning en route to a 6-4 Rawhide victory over the San Jose Giants on Tuesday evening at Municipal Stadium. San Jose rallied from a three-run deficit and tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, but then left runners in scoring position in every inning from the eighth through the 11th to drop the series opener. The Giants (26-18) have now lost five out of their last six overall to fall one game behind Visalia (27-17) in the second half North Division race.
Christian Arroyo (3-for-5, 2B, HR, RBI) singled, doubled and homered to lead San Jose offensively in defeat. Daniel Carbonell (1-for-6, HR, RBI) added a solo home run while Brandon Bednar (2-for-5, 2B) contributed a pair of hits. The Giants though were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position from the eighth inning through the remainder of the game.
San Jose trailed by a 4-1 score before rallying with three runs over the sixth and seventh innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Carbonell blasted a solo home run to left to cut the Rawhide lead to 4-2. Then in the seventh, Aramis Garcia drew a leadoff walk before Tyler Horan's deep fly ball to right was dropped by Daniel Palka for an error. The miscue put runners on the corners for the Giants. Seth Harrison followed with a grounder to second that saw Horan forced out on the play, but Garcia came home to make it 4-3. Harrison then stole second and scored the tying run when John Polonius smacked a two-out RBI triple off the fence in right center.
The game remained tied until the 11th, but San Jose had several opportunities to win the game. In the bottom of the eighth, Arroyo led off with a double down the left field line, but advanced no further as Andrew Susac struck out looking, Angel Villalona popped out and Garcia lined out softly to shortstop.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Giants put the potential winning run at third base with one out, but again failed to capitalize. After the first batter was retired, Harrison laced a double into left and moved to third on a wild pitch. However, Bednar struck out swinging and after Polonius was hit by a pitch, Carbonell grounded out weakly to first base to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 10th, Arroyo lined a single to start the frame and was then sacrificed to second by Brian Ragira. Villalona was up next and he drew a walk, but Garcia followed by grounding into an inning-ending double play.
Tyler Rogers (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO) pitched the top of the eighth and ninth innings out of the San Jose bullpen retiring six out of the seven batters he faced to keep the game tied. Jake Smith then worked around a one-out single in the top of the 10th, but the Rawhide would breakthrough in the 11th. With one out, Cron belted a 1-2 pitch from Smith over the fence in left for a solo home run. The homer, Cron's team-leading 23rd of the season, gave Visalia a 5-4 lead. Back-to-back singles from Gerson Montilla and Kevin Medrano then put runners on first and third before Jose Queliz delivered a sacrifice fly to left for a 6-4 advantage.
Down by two runs, the Giants threatened in the bottom of the 11th. Horan drew a leadoff walk and Bednar hit a one-out double into the left center field gap putting runners on second and third. However, new pitcher J.R. Bradley struck out Polonius and then set down Carbonell on a groundout to shortstop to finish the game.
Bud Jeter (2-0), who entered to begin the bottom of the 10th, was credited with the win out of the Rawhide bullpen. Jeter pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two hits allowed, two walks and one struck out. Bradley notched his second save of the year.
Smith (4-4) suffered the loss for the Giants after surrendering both runs in the top of the 11th.
Visalia jumped out early in the contest with a three-run top of the first against San Jose starter Luis Ysla. Three straight singles from Mitch Haniger, Domingo Leyba and Jamie Westbrook started the game. Daniel Palka then drew a walk to bring home the first run. After Cron struck out, Montilla blooped an RBI single into shallow right to make it 2-0. Ysla then walked Medrano to plate another run for the Rawhide. The Giants left-hander though was then able to limit the damage inducing the next batter, Queliz, to ground into an inning-ending double play.
San Jose got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Arroyo launched a solo home run to left center. The homer was Arroyo's second in the last three games and eighth of the season.
Visalia reclaimed their three-run cushion in the top of the sixth against Ysla when Montilla connected for a solo home run to left.
Ysla worked a season-high six innings and allowed four runs (all earned) and seven hits. He walked three and struck out six. After the top of the first, Ysla surrendered only one run and three hits.
Notes:
* The Giants have lost their last five extra-inning games - all in the last 14 days.
* San Jose is 9-11 in extra-inning games this season. The 20 extra-inning contests lead the California League and are second-most in all of Minor League Baseball.
* The Giants fell to 3-14 against Visalia this season.
* Visalia out-hit San Jose 12-9. The Giants were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
* San Jose lost for just the third time in their last 16 home games.
* Susac finished 1-for-4 with a single and a strikeout in the first game of his rehabilitation assignment. He started at DH and hit third in the batting order.
* Third baseman Ryder Jones (quad strain) was placed on the 7-day disabled list before the game retroactive to August 7.
On Deck: The Giants and Rawhide continue their three-game series on Wednesday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Jordan Johnson (1-0, 3.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Blake Perry (8-4, 4.82 ERA). It's Taylor Swift Night at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from August 12, 2015
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- Martes' Quality Start Leads Way Past 66ers - Lancaster JetHawks
- Missed Opportunities Cost Giants in 11-Inning Loss - San Jose Giants
- Pitching Powers Ports Past Nuts 2-1 - Stockton Ports
- Super Six: Blaze Thwomp Storm, 11-1 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Defensive Miscues Doom Nuts in 2-1 Loss - Modesto Nuts
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