CalL1 San Jose Giants

Ninth-Inning Run Propels Giants Past Stockton, 3-2

Published on July 2, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Tyler Graham drove home the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning before Steve Edlefsen pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the frame leading the San Jose Giants to a 3-2 victory over the Stockton Ports on Wednesday night at Banner Island Ballpark. In the opener of a three-game series, San Jose scored a run in the top of the ninth without the benefit of a hit while Edlefsen pitched through a single and a pair of walks to seal the Giants victory. With the win, San Jose has won six out of their first seven games of the second half while they improve their overall record to a California League-best 48-29.

Nick Noonan (2-for-2, RBI) reached base in all four of his plate appearances and scored two of the three runs to lead the Giants offensive attack. Brian Bocock (2-for-4) also contributed a multi-hit game at the plate.

Dan Runzler (1-0) was credited with his first victory since joining San Jose after working a perfect bottom of the eighth out of the bullpen. Craig Clark started the game on the mound and tossed seven effective innings with two runs (both earned) and five hits allowed. Clark, who allowed only a two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning, walked two and struck out seven.

With the game deadlocked at 2-2, Noonan began the top of the ninth inning by drawing a full-count walk. After pinch-hitter Shane Jordan advanced the runner to second with a sacrifice bunt, Noonan took third base on a passed ball charged to Stockton catcher Matt Smith. Then on the very next pitch, Graham drove a fly ball to deep center field that was caught by Grant Desme for the second out, however Noonan easily scored from third to give the Giants a 3-2 lead.

Edlefsen entered the game to begin the bottom of the ninth and promptly allowed a leadoff single to Desme before Steve Kleen walked on four pitches to put the potential winning run on base. Edlefsen recovered to set down Danny Putnam on a routine fly out to center as Desme advanced to third. Shane Keough then struck out swinging on a slider that glanced off of his front foot for the second out of the inning. Matt Smith followed by working a walk to load the bases, but Edlefsen responded by inducing Frank Martinez to hit a soft ground ball in between the mound and first base that the pitcher quickly fielded before racing to the bag to easily retire the hitter for the final out of the game.

Scott Hodsdon (3-6) suffered the loss out of the Ports bullpen after surrendering the run in the top of the ninth. Hodsdon worked three innings and yielded just one hit and one unearned run. All three runs allowed by Stockton pitchers were unearned.

The Giants initially took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Conor Gillaspie led off by reaching on an error before advancing to second on Trent Kline's sacrifice bunt and then scoring when Noonan singled sharply up the middle.

The Ports though immediately answered back in the bottom of the second as Desme drew a leadoff walk and then Kleen belted a two-run homer to deep left center field.

San Jose tied the score in the top of the fourth, again taking advantage of a Stockton error. With two outs, Noonan singled before moving to second on a passed ball. Darren Ford followed with a ground ball to shortstop that saw Michael Richard throw wildly to first base for an error as Noonan raced around third with the tying run.

Clark did not allow more than one hitter to reach base in an inning after the second and finished his outing by retiring eight out of the last nine Ports batters that came to the plate.

Notes: The Giants have won nine out of their last 10 games ... San Jose improved to 16-4 against Stockton this season ... Edlefsen is a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities ... Runzler has yet to allow a run in eight relief appearances with the Giants (9 IP) ... San Jose has won their last four one-run games ... Bocock and Gillaspie (1-for-4) both extended their hitting streaks to seven games ... Stockton committed four errors in the game and have a league-high 114 errors this season ... Ports starter Craig Italiano pitched 5 2/3 innings with four hits and two unearned runs allowed ... He walked one and struck out eight ... Stockton out-hit the Giants by a 6-5 margin.

On Deck: The Giants and Ports continue their three-game series on Thursday evening with first pitch at Banner Island Ballpark scheduled for 7:05 PM. Scott Barnes (7-3, 3.44 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Scott Mitchinson (0-2, 4.82 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

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