CalL1 San Jose Giants

Ninth-Inning Comeback Falls Short in 4-3 Loss

Published on July 6, 2014 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE - The San Jose Giants scored twice in the bottom of the ninth and had the bases loaded with one out, but could not complete the comeback in a 4-3 loss to the Stockton Ports on Saturday evening at Municipal Stadium. San Jose has now dropped the first two games of the series to the Ports.

Elliott Blair (2-for-4, RBI), Brian Ragira (2-for-4) and Brandon Bednar (2-for-4) had two hits apiece to lead the Giants offensively in defeat.

Stockton carried a 4-1 into the bottom of the ninth when Ragira started the late rally with a one-out single. After a wild pitch uncorked by Ports reliever Nolan Sanburn advanced Ragira to second, Ben Turner hit a high fly ball to deep left that was dropped by Aaron Shipman on the edge of the warning track. The error allowed Ragira to score while Turner safely made it into second. Blair was up next and he bounced a single up the middle to plate Turner cutting the Stockton lead to 4-3. Alberto Robles followed with a double down the right field line advancing Blair, the potential tying run to third, before an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Mitch Delfino loaded the bases. Sanburn though was able to hold the Giants off as he struck out Chuckie Jones on a 3-2 high fastball before Shawn Payne also struck out swinging to end the game.

Jonathan Joseph (4-3), who entered the game for the Ports in the bottom of the fourth, was credited with the win after tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Joseph allowed three hits, walked none and struck out three during his long relief stint. Sanburn worked the last two innings with two runs (one earned) surrendered to earn his fourth save of the year.

Stockton never trailed in the contest as they jumped out to the early lead with a run in the top of the first against Giants starter Kendry Flores. The game began with a walk to Boog Powell before Daniel Robertson grounded into a force out. After Matt Olson grounded out to move Robertson to second, Renato Nunez bounced an RBI single up the middle for the first run of the contest.

San Jose answered in the bottom of the first with a run of their own. With one out, Payne drew a walk. Bednar then reached on an infield single and when the third baseman Ryon Healy bounced the throw to first for an error, Payne moved into third. Blake Miller then grounded out to plate Payne with the tying run.

The Ports though immediately answered in the top of the second with two more runs against Flores. Ryan Gorton singled with one out before immediately scoring when the next batter, Shipman, blasted a triple to deep right center. Shipman later scored the second run of the inning on a two-out wild pitch.

Flores (3-6) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (all earned) on six hits over four innings of work. The right-hander walked three and struck out two during his 85-pitch outing.

Stockton pushed their lead to 4-1 in the top of the sixth against reliever Jeff Soptic (1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO) as two walks put runners on first and second with one out before Powell delivered an RBI single.

Tyler Rogers (2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO) and Bryce Bandilla (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) combined to hold the Ports scoreless over the final 3 2/3 innings of the game.

Meanwhile, the Giants managed only five hits and one run over the first eight innings against a trio of Stockton pitchers. Josh Bowman made the spot-start for the Ports and pitched the first 3 1/3 innings with one unearned run and two hits allowed. Joseph entered with a runner at first base and one out in the bottom of the fourth and quickly retired the next two hitters to end the inning. Joseph had retired six straight batters until Miller doubled with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Ragira followed with a bloop single into shallow center, however Miller was thrown out at the plate on the play for the second out of the inning. Joseph then worked around a leadoff single to Blair in the bottom of the seventh to again keep San Jose off the scoreboard. Sanburn followed with a 1-2-3 eighth inning before escaping in the ninth.

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California League Stories from July 6, 2014


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