Shaw Homers Twice in 6-1 Giants Victory
May 22, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA - Chris Shaw homered twice and drove in four runs to lead the San Jose Giants to a 6-1 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Sunday afternoon at LoanMart Field. Brandon Bednar also went deep as the Giants (25-16) won for the fifth time in their last six games.
Shaw (2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI) hit an inside-the-park home run in the second inning before blasting a three-run homer over the center field fence in the top of the fourth. Bednar (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) added a two-run shot later in the fourth inning as all six of San Jose's runs in the contest came via the homer.
Jason Forjet (5-2), who took a shutout into the seventh inning, earned the win for the Giants. Forjet allowed just one run and four hits over six-plus innings of work during his start. The right-hander walked two and struck out three.
The scoring began in the top of the second when Shaw led off with a line drive into the right field corner. Rehabbing Dodgers outfielder Scott Van Slyke, who was playing in right for the Quakes, went into the corner and protested that the ball had rolled out of play and thus should be ruled an automatic double. The umpiring crew determined, however, that the ball had remained playable and Shaw, who had already rounded the bases, was given an inside-the-park home run.
Trailing 1-0, Rancho Cucamonga threatened against Forjet in the bottom of the third. A walk to Julian Leon started the inning before Erick Mejia singled with one out to put runners on the corners. Then with Mejia attempting to steal on the pitch, Forjet induced Johan Meises to pop out to catcher Andrew Susac. Mejia returned to first, but the Giants successfully appealed at second that Mejia did not retouch the base on his way back to first. The unorthodox double play ended the inning with San Jose still ahead by a run.
The Giants then exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth to extend their lead to 6-0. Consecutive singles from Steven Duggar and Susac began the frame before Shaw stepped to the plate and clubbed a pitch from Quakes starter Yaisel Sierra over the fence in center for a three-run homer. The home run, Shaw's second of the game and team-leading 10th of the season, made the score 4-0.
The fourth-inning rally continued with a single from C.J Hinojosa and then with two outs, Bednar launched a two-run homer to left pushing the lead to 6-0. Bednar's home run was his second of the road trip and third this season.
Forjet then pitched around a one-out single from Van Slyke in the bottom of the fourth before quickly setting down Rancho Cucamonga 1-2-3 in the fifth and sixth innings. The San Jose starter had retired eight straight Quakes hitters before issuing a leadoff walk to Van Slyke in the bottom of the seventh. Kyle Garlick followed with a single before Matt Beaty singled to bring home Van Slyke with the first Rancho Cucamonga run of the day. The RBI hit ended Forjet's afternoon, but Jose Morel (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) entered from the bullpen and quickly got out of the inning as Yusniel Diaz grounded out and Leon lined into a double play to third.
Jeff Soptic (1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) and Reyes Moronta (1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) then tossed scoreless eighth and ninth innings respectively to seal the victory.
Sierra (2-2), who signed a 6-year, $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in February out of Cuba, was saddled the loss. He surrendered six runs (all earned) and six hits over 3 2/3 innings. Two Quakes relievers - Jeff Malm and Bubby Rossman - combined to hold the Giants scoreless over the final 5 1/3 innings.
Duggar (2-for-4) also had a multi-hit game for San Jose.
Notes:
* San Jose has now won two out of the first three games in the series against the Quakes.
* Shaw hit two home runs in a game for the first time this season. Duggar (April 17 at Inland Empire) has the only other two-homer game for the Giants this year.
* Both teams finished with eight hits.
* San Jose had only one at-bat with a runner in scoring position on Sunday (Shaw's fourth-inning home run).
* Forjet is now tied with Jordan Johnson for the team lead in wins (tied for third in the California League).
* Forjet also had two at-bats on Sunday (0-for-2) after the Giants gave up their designated hitter. Catcher Aramis Garcia left the game in the top of the second after colliding with Quakes second baseman Tim Locastro on a slide attempting to breakup a double play. Susac then moved from DH to catcher.
* Susac finished 1-for-4 with a single. He went 4-for-11 (.364 AVG) with a double and two RBI's in three rehab games with San Jose this weekend. Susac is expected to rejoin Triple-A Sacramento on Monday.
* The Giants are 5-3 on their road trip.
On Deck: The Giants will look for a series victory against Rancho Cucamonga when the teams conclude their four-game set on Monday evening at LoanMart Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Martin Agosta (2-0, 1.65 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while the Quakes are expected to counter with Andrew Sopko (5-0, 3.22 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:35 PM.
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