CalL1 San Jose Giants

San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Return Home for Three Games Against Blaze

Published on August 7, 2011 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Bakersfield Blaze (54-58) @ San Jose Giants (74-38)

At Municipal Stadium

Sunday, August 7, 5:00 PM

Monday, August 8, 7:00 PM

Tuesday, August 9, 7:00 PM

Probable Starting Pitching Matchups

Sunday - Daniel Renken (1-0, 1.80) vs. Andy Reichard (6-2, 3.19)

Monday - Tim Crabbe (3-3, 3.70) vs. Barry Zito (2-0, 1.98)

Tuesday - Matt Fairel (0-1, 81.00) vs. Tom Vessella (3-1, 2.52)

Giants Begin Three-Game Series Against Bakersfield Tonight...

The two-time defending California League champion San Jose Giants return home this evening to begin a three-game series against the Bakersfield Blaze at Municipal Stadium.

San Jose completed their road trip last night with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the host High Desert Mavericks.

Nick Noonan hit a go-ahead two-run homer with two outs in the top of the seventh inning before the Giants held off the Mavericks for the win.

Craig Westcott became the first 12-game winner in the California League this season after limiting High Desert to a pair of runs (one earned) on four hits over seven innings of work.

Osiris Matos and Jake Dunning then fired scoreless eighth and ninth innings respectively to finish the game.

Dunning was credited with his fifth save of the season.

Jarrett Parker (3-for-4, 2B) and Noonan (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) had multi-hit games to lead San Jose offensively.

Media Coverage...

The games on Sunday and Monday will be televised live on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104.

The entire series can also be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

Road Trip Review...

The Giants secured a winning record on their recently completed road trip with last night's victory.

San Jose finished 4-3 on the road trip after taking two out of three at Inland Empire before splitting a four-game series against High Desert.

The Giants' 36-20 record away from Municipal Stadium is the top road mark in the California League this season.

Offensive Slump...

San Jose has scored only 15 runs over their last six contests (2.5 per game) while batting at a .233 clip.

The Giants have scored three runs or fewer in five out of their last six games.

Joseph Extends Hitting Streak To 10 Games...

Catcher Tommy Joseph brings a 10-game hitting streak into tonight's action.

Joseph is batting .316 (12-for-38) with two doubles, one home run and six RBI's during his streak.

It marks Joseph's third hitting streak of 10 games or more this year.

He hit in a season-high 11 straight games on two separate occasions (May 31-June 13 and June 27-July 8).

Since June 1, Joseph is batting .297 with 18 doubles, eight home runs and 36 RBI's (52 games).

Prior to June 1, he was batting just .211 with four home runs (50 games).

His 12 homers overall lead the team.

Second Half Update...

The Giants are currently 23-19 in the second half - two games behind the Stockton Ports (25-17) for the top spot in the North Division.

San Jose last won both halves in the North Division during the 2009 season.

The Giants (74-38) are 11 games ahead of Stockton (63-49) for the top overall record and homefield advantage (hosting Game Five) in the North Division Series.

Barry Zito Scheduled To Make Rehab Start Tomorrow...

San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito is scheduled to make a rehab start for San Jose in tomorrow's night game.

Zito, who is on the disabled list with an aggravated right foot sprain, is 3-4 with a 5.62 ERA in nine big league starts this season.

Zito has made two previous rehab starts with San Jose this year and is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA (3 ER/13.2 IP).

Brown Ignites Offense...

Center fielder Gary Brown leads the Giants in batting average (.317), runs scored (85), hits (142 - league-leader), triples (8), stolen bases (43) and on-base percentage (.384) to go with nine homers and 62 RBI's.

Brown is also second in the league in steals, tied for second in runs scored, tied for second in triples and eighth in batting average.

Pitching Leaders...

The Giants enter tonight's game with a league-best 3.52 team ERA - well ahead of the next-closest team (Stockton - 4.35).

San Jose has also thrown 13 shutouts as a pitching staff to lead the California League (Modesto and Inland Empire are second with four shutouts each).

Individually, three Giants pitchers rank among the top seven in the league in ERA: Craig Westcott (2nd, 3.11), Kelvin Marte (4th, 3.25), and Chris Heston (7th, 3.79).

Seventh Consecutive First Half North Division Title...

The Giants won their California League record seventh consecutive first half North Division title (2005-2011) earlier this year.

San Jose posted a 51-19 first half record - 13 games ahead of the second-place Stockton Ports (38-32).

By virtue of winning the division crown, the Giants clinch a spot in the playoffs and earn a first round bye.

San Jose will open the postseason on Saturday, September 10 with Game One of the best-of-five North Division Series at Municipal Stadium.

The Giants will also host Game Two of the series on Sunday, September 11.

Prior to San Jose's current run, the California League record for consecutive first half division titles was three (Visalia).

The 51 victories tied a team record for most wins in a half.

The 2009 team, also under Andy Skeels, won 51 games during the second half.

Opponent Notes: Bakersfield Blaze...

The Bakersfield Blaze, an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, possess an overall record of 54-58 and a 19-23 second half mark.

Bakersfield is three games behind the Modesto Nuts for the North Division wild card lead.

The Blaze are winless in seven games at Municipal Stadium this season and 4-13 overall against the Giants.

Bakersfield is tied for first in the league in batting average (.286) and sixth in ERA (4.89).

Check out the San Jose Giants Statistics

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California League Stories from August 7, 2011


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