Seventh-Inning Rally Propels Giants to 3-2 Win
August 5, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
MODESTO, CA - Ty Ross hit a tiebreaking RBI double with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to propel the San Jose Giants to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Modesto Nuts on Tuesday evening at John Thurman Field. San Jose rallied from an early 2-0 deficit, scoring once in the fifth before a two-run seventh inning to take the lead. The Giants (25-13) have won the first two games of the series to move into a first-place tie with Modesto in the second half North Division race.
Jordan Johnson (1-0), added to the roster from Salem-Keizer (Short-Season level) before the game, earned the win in his San Jose Giants debut. Johnson worked six innings with two runs (both earned) and four hits allowed. The right-hander walked one, struck out eight and retired 11 out of the last 12 batters he faced. Jake Smith pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning for his eighth save of the year.
Ross (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Seth Harrison (2-for-3, HR, RBI) each produced two hits to lead the Giants offensively. Harrison smacked his fourth home run of the season.
The Nuts jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and third innings against Johnson. In the bottom of the first, Mike Benjamin, Jr. doubled with one out and scored on Ryan McMahon's two-out single up the middle. Then in the third, Cesar Galvez led off with a single, stole second and came home on Benjamin's one-out single down the left field line. Benjamin would take second on the throw home and then steal third, but was stranded there after Johnson registered consecutive swinging strikeouts of Rosell Herrera and McMahon.
Meanwhile, San Jose managed only one single over the first four innings against Modesto starter Alex Balog. In the fifth, Balog quickly retired the first two hitters before Harrison stepped to the plate and launched a solo home run to deep left center. The home run, Harrison's fourth of the season, trimmed the Nuts lead to 2-1.
Johnson settled in after the third as the Giants starter worked 1-2-3 fourth and fifth innings throwing a total of just 19 pitches over the two frames. Johnson then struck out Benjamin and Herrera to start the bottom of the sixth before issuing a walk to McMahon. Johnson though came back to retire Drew Weeks on a fly out to right to end the inning.
With Modesto still ahead by a 2-1 score, the decisive seventh-inning rally began with a one-out single to left off the bat of Brian Ragira. After Tyler Horan struck out, Harrison lined a single into left center advancing Ragira to the third. And when the center fielder Herrera had the ball roll under his glove for an error, Ragira raced home with the tying run. Harrison took second on the misplay and immediately scored the go-ahead run when the next batter, Ross, blasted a double off the wall in deep left.
Dan Slania (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) relieved Johnson to begin the bottom of the seventh and needed just nine pitches to set down the Nuts in order. In the eighth, Benjamin singled with two outs, but Slania retired the next hitter, Herrera, on a groundout to retire the side.
Smith (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) then entered in the bottom of the ninth and promptly allowed a leadoff single to McMahon. A sacrifice bunt advanced McMahon, the potential tying run, to second, but he was stranded as Smith induced Dillon Thomas to fly out to shallow center before Correlle Prime struck out swinging to end the game.
Modesto reliever Trent Daniel (3-4) suffered the loss after surrendering both runs in the top of the seventh. Balog allowed only one run on three hits over first six innings. He walked one and struck out four.
Notes:
* The Giants have won five out of their last six games. San Jose is 21-6 in their last 27 games overall.
* Johnson was 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA in eight starts between the AZL-Giants (Rookie) and Salem-Keizer prior to his promotion to the Giants. The win was the first of Johnson's professional career (ninth start).
* San Jose has won their last five games at John Thurman Field.
* Both teams finished with six hits on Tuesday.
* Christian Arroyo's (0-for-4) hitting streak was snapped at nine games.
* Catcher Jeff Arnold (knee) was placed on the disabled list before the game. Catcher Bryan Case was added to the roster from the AZL-Giants.
* The Giants (55-53) improved to a season-high two games above .500 overall.
On Deck: The Giants will look for a three-game sweep of Modesto when the teams conclude their series on Wednesday evening. First pitch at John Thurman Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Jason Forjet (4-3, 3.18 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while the Nuts are expected to counter with Zach Jemiola (4-3, 4.88 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:35 PM.
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