Nuts Ninth-Inning Rally Sinks Giants
Published on June 3, 2018 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - The Modesto Nuts scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning Saturday night on their way to a come-from-behind 7-4 victory over the San Jose Giants at Municipal Stadium. A critical Giants error on a potential game-ending double play allowed the tying run to score for Modesto in the ninth before the Nuts scored three more times in the inning to take control of the game. The loss drops San Jose (30-26) five games out of first place in the North Division with 14 to play in the first half.
The defeat snapped a streak of 78 consecutive wins for the Giants when leading after eight innings dating back to August 30, 2016.
San Jose took a 4-3 lead into the top of the ninth and had closer Dylan Rheault on the mound when Modesto rallied. Kevin Santa began the inning by grounding out before Tyler Baker doubled down the right field line. A passed ball then advanced pinch-runner Bryson Brigman to third before a walk to Gareth Morgan put runners on the corners. Luis Liberato was up next and he hit a sharp grounder up the middle that deflected off the glove of shortstop C.J Hinojosa for a key error. Brigman scored the tying run from third base on the miscue while Morgan, the potential go-ahead run, raced into third. Donnie Walton then stepped to the plate and lined a single into left to easily score Morgan giving the Nuts a 5-4 lead. Kyle Lewis then delivered an RBI single of his own before a Joe Rizzo two-out RBI single off of Rheault made it 7-4.
Wyatt Mills (4-0) earned the win out of the Modesto bullpen after tossing two scoreless innings to finish the game. After the Nuts took the lead in the top of the ninth, Mills breezed through a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning to seal the Modesto victory.
Rheault (1-3), who suffered his first blown save in four opportunities this season, suffered the loss. The right-hander was charged with all four runs (two earned) on four hits in the top of the ninth.
The Nuts scored first in the contest plating a single run in the top of the third against Giants starter Melvin Adon. Back-to-back one-out singles from Morgan and Liberato put runners on first and second before Lewis produced a two-out RBI single to right for a 1-0 Modesto lead.
San Jose then benefitted from a pair of Nuts errors in the bottom of the fourth to score twice and take their first lead of the night. With one out, Jalen Miller reached on an error committed by Nick Zammarelli at first. Miller then stole second and scored with two outs when Jacob Heyward's high pop up to shortstop was dropped by Walton for an error. Wander Franco followed with a ringing double to deep left center plating Heyward giving the Giants a 2-1 lead.
The Nuts came back with two runs in the top of the sixth to reclaim the lead. Adon issued a one-out walk to Rizzo to end his night. Caleb Baragar was summoned from the bullpen, but he promptly allowed a game-tying RBI triple to Anthony Jimenez as Modesto pulled even 2-2. Kevin Santa followed with an RBI single putting the Nuts in front by a 3-2 margin.
The back-and-forth affair continued with two more San Jose runs in the bottom of the sixth as the Giants enjoyed another lead. Kelby Tomlinson led off with a single before advancing to second on a Miller sacrifice bunt. Hinojosa was up next and he grounded a single up the middle to plate Tomlinson tying the game 3-3. After a walk to Heyward and a strikeout of Franco, Sandro Fabian singled into center to bring home Hinojosa putting San Jose in the lead at 4-3.
Rodolfo Martinez (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) maintained the one-run Giants advantage with back-to-back perfect innings in the seventh and eighth before Modesto staged their dramatic rally in the top of the ninth.
Notes
* The Giants had been 21-0 this season when leading after eight innings. San Jose was the only team in the California League last year that posted a perfect record when leading after eight (55-0).
* Prior to Saturday, the Giants had most recently lost a game when leading after eight innings when Bakersfield scored twice in the top of the ninth on August 30, 2016 to rally for a 3-2 win.
* Modesto out-hit San Jose 10-7 on Saturday.
* The Nuts snapped a four-game losing streak.
* Adon pitched 5 1/3 innings with two runs (both earned) and four hits allowed. He walked two and struck out six during his 95-pitch outing.
* Franco's double was his league-leading 19th of the season.
* Tomlinson (1-for-4) joined San Jose earlier Saturday after he was optioned by San Francisco. In other roster moves Saturday, Gio Brusa was activated off the disabled list while catcher/first baseman Dylan Manwaring and pitcher Norwith Gudino were transferred to Extended Spring Training.
* The Giants fell to 4-2 on their homestand.
On Deck
The Giants and Nuts play the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 1:00 PM. Logan Webb (1-2, 1.59 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Ljay Newsome (3-3, 4.48 ERA). For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from June 3, 2018
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- Quakes Fall Sunday, Now One Game Back in South - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Near No-No Helps 'Hawks Hold off Rancho - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Drop Rubber Game to Modesto, 6-5 - San Jose Giants
- Nuts Battle Back to Earn 6-5 Win - Modesto Nuts
- Ports Light up Rawhide 9-5, Win Fifth Straight - Stockton Ports
- Rancho Wins Fifth Straight, Moves into First-Place Tie - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Stockton Puts up Big Inning to Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Walton Whacks Winning Single in Comeback Win - Modesto Nuts
- 'Hawks Hampered by Homers in Rancho - Lancaster JetHawks
- Nuts Ninth-Inning Rally Sinks Giants - San Jose Giants
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