Neal, Crawford Lead Giants To 9-6 Victory Over Mavericks
Published on April 24, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Thomas Neal and Brandon Crawford both homered and combined for seven RBI's to lead the San Jose Giants to a 9-6 victory over the High Desert Mavericks on Thursday night at Stater Bros. Stadium. In the opener of a four-game series, Neal finished 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBI's while Crawford ripped a two-run shot in the first inning - his team-leading fifth round-tripper of the year. With the win, San Jose improves their overall record to 11-4.
Scott Barnes (2-1) earned the victory on the mound for the Giants after surrendering two runs (both earned) on five hits over five innings. The left-hander walked two and struck out five during his 83-pitch performance.
With the game tied 2-2, San Jose took the lead for good with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Neal and Skyler Stromsmoe began the frame with consecutive singles against Mavericks starting pitcher Edward Paredes before Darren Ford drew a walk to load the bases. Crawford was up next and the Giants shortstop also walked to bring home Neal for a 3-2 San Jose advantage. Alfredo Venegas was then summoned from the bullpen and he promptly struck out the next two hitters, Michael Ambort and Buster Posey. However, with Conor Gillaspie at the plate, Venegas uncorked a wild pitch allowing Stromsmoe to score the second run of the frame
The Giants extended their lead with four more runs off of Venegas in the top of the sixth inning. Angel Villalona led off with a single before Roger Kieschnick doubled down the right field line to put runners at second and third. Neal followed by driving an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left field for a towering three-run homer. The home run, Neal's second of the year, gave San Jose a 7-2 lead.
Stromsmoe was up next and he restarted the rally with a single before eventually scoring on Ambort's two-out double into the right center field gap.
The Giants scored their final run of the evening in the top of the seventh inning when Kieschnick and Neal delivered back-to-back one-out doubles.
Neal (3-for-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Crawford (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), Kieschnick (2-for-5, 2 2B) and Stromsmoe (2-for-4) each finished with multiple-hit games at the plate. San Jose out-hit High Desert by a 13-11 margin.
The Mavericks clawed their way back into the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with three unearned runs against Giants reliever Adam Cowart. With one out, Alex Liddi doubled before Ron Garth drew a walk. Jamie McOwen then grounded a ball to Villalona that saw the first baseman throw wildly to second, in an attempt to force out Garth. The error allowed Liddi to score the first run of the inning. Two batters later, Kuo Hui Lo ripped a two-run triple to deep right center field scoring two more runs and cutting the San Jose lead down to 9-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, Edilio Colina brought home a run with a one-out RBI single before Garth drew a two-out walk to bring the potential tying run to the plate. However, Cowart settled down inducing the next hitter, McOwen, to ground into a fielder's choice to second base ending the contest.
Paredes (1-1) suffered the loss for the Mavericks after yielding four runs (all earned) on six hits over four-plus innings of work.
The Giants initially took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Ford led off the game with a walk before Crawford drove a fly ball to deep left center field that carried over the fence for a home run.
High Desert tied the score against Barnes in the bottom of the second inning when Travis Scott delivered a two-out, two-run double to center field. Barnes though would not allow another run for the remainder of his outing. The southpaw struck out three batters in the bottom of the fifth, including Liddi to strand runners at first and third.
Wilmin Rodriguez, who entered the game to begin the bottom of the sixth, fired two scoreless innings of relief with two hits allowed before Cowart (2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO) was brought into pitch in the eighth.
Notes: The Giants lead the California League with 19 home runs ... San Jose has won five out of their last six games ... Neal has 11 hits in his last 18 at-bats (.611 AVG) to raise his season average to .333 ... Crawford is second in the league in home runs ... Every Giants starter with the exception of Ford (0-for-2, 3 BB) had at least one hit ... San Jose finished the night with seven extra-base hits (five doubles, two home runs) ... Thursday marked the beginning of a seven-game road trip for the Giants.
On Deck: The Giants and Mavericks continue their four-game series on Friday evening with first pitch at Stater Bros. Stadium scheduled for 7:05 PM. Craig Clark (0-0, 2.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while High Desert is expected to counter with Michael Pineda (2-1, 4.42 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from April 24, 2009
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- Neal, Crawford Lead Giants To 9-6 Victory Over Mavericks - San Jose Giants
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