Neal's Home Run Powers Giants To Sweep Of Blaze
July 22, 2009 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Thomas Neal hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning propelling the San Jose Giants to their fifth consecutive win, an 8-4 victory over the Bakersfield Blaze on Tuesday evening at Municipal Stadium. David Maroul also drove home three runs while Brian Bocock contributed three hits as the Giants completed a three-game sweep of the Blaze. The win improves San Jose's overall record to a season-high 30 games over the .500 mark at 63-33.
Neal's (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI) home run was his 17th of the season as it broke a 4-4 tie. Bocock (3-for-4, 2B) scored three runs in the contest while Maroul (2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI), Trent Kline (2-for-4) and Darren Ford (2-for-4, 2B) also produced multi-hit games at the plate.
With the score tied at 4-4, consecutive singles from Tyler Graham and Bocock started the bottom of the seventh to put runners at the corners and knock out Bakersfield starting pitcher Richard Bleier. Beau Jones, who had not allowed a run in 10 2/3 innings this season since joining the Blaze from Double-A Frisco, was then summoned from the bullpen to face Neal. The Giants slugger jumped ahead in the count 3-1 and lined the next pitch over the fence in straightaway left field for a three-run homer and a 7-4 San Jose lead.
Wilmin Rodriguez (3-0) was credited with the victory out of the Giants bullpen after working two scoreless innings. Rodriguez entered the game to begin the top of the seventh inning and worked a 1-2-3 frame to keep the score tied. After San Jose went ahead, Rodriguez went back to the mound in the eighth and pitched around a leadoff walk and a two-out double to hold the Blaze off the scoreboard.
Bleier (5-7) suffered the loss for Bakersfield surrendering six runs (all earned) on 11 hits over six-plus innings. The left-hander walked two and struck out three.
The Giants initially took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Bocock doubled with one out before scoring on Maroul's two-out single into left. The Blaze though quickly answered in the top of the second as Mike Bianucci connected for a solo home run to left field.
San Jose moved back in front in the bottom of the third as three straight singles from Bocock, Neal and Roger Kieschnick to start the inning produced a run. Maroul then stepped to the plate and lined a double to the fence in left plating Neal and Kieschnick to give the Giants a 4-1 lead.
Paul Oseguera started on the mound for San Jose and had allowed just one run over his first five innings before running into trouble in the top of the sixth. With one out, Bianucci again blasted a solo home run to left - his second of the night. Oseguera followed by issuing a walk to Joey Butler before Tim Rodriguez ripped a two-run homer to left field on the first pitch of his at-bat. The home run, Bakersfield's third of the game, brought the Blaze back into a tie at 4-4.
Oseguera finished his outing with four runs allowed (all earned) on eight hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out four.
The Giants added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Skyler Stromsmoe scored from third base on an error before Mike Musgrave (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth to seal the victory. Musgrave induced Jonathan Greene to line into a double play to third to end the game and strand the potential tying run in the on-deck circle.
Notes: The Giants improved their second half record to 21-5 - six games ahead of the Stockton Ports (15-11) for the top spot in the North Division ... Neal has homered in each of the last two games ... Maroul has six RBI's in his last two games ... Bakersfield was 0-for-4 batting with runners in scoring position ... The Blaze hit 19 home runs in 10 games at Municipal Stadium this season (San Jose won seven out of 10) ... Conor Gillaspie (0-for-4) saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end ... The Giants are 34-8 in their last 42 games dating back to June 5.
On Deck: The Giants travel to Visalia to begin a three-game series against the Rawhide on Wednesday evening with first pitch at Recreation Park scheduled for 7:05 PM. Craig Clark (10-2, 3.20 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Josh Collmenter (7-5, 3.44 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from July 22, 2009
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- Synder on Rehab Duty with Rawhide - Visalia Rawhide
- San Jose Giants at Visalia Rawhide, July 22-24 - San Jose Giants
- Neal's Home Run Powers Giants To Sweep Of Blaze - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Lose to Mavs 7-2 - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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