Sloppy Giants Suffer 13-6 Loss to Nuts
April 20, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - The Modesto Nuts jumped out early with eight runs over the first two innings on Thursday night and then broke the game open late with a five-run top of the eighth on their way to a 13-6 victory over the Giants at Municipal Stadium. San Jose pitchers issued 10 walks while the Giants also committed a pair of costly errors that resulted in nine unearned runs in the sloppy defeat. The series-opening setback was the Giants' (8-7) third consecutive loss overall.
Wander Franco (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) had three hits and drove home a pair of runs to lead San Jose offensively. Bryce Johnson (2-for-6, RBI), Jalen Miller (2-for-5), Sandro Fabian (2-for-5, 2B) and Brandon Van Horn (2-for-5, 2B) added two hits apiece while Gio Brusa (1-for-5, 2 RBI) drove home two runs. The Giants though went just 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position and left a season-high 14 on base.
Modesto raced out to a 5-0 lead with a five-run top of the first inning against San Jose starter Raffi Vizcaino. Bryson Brigman led off the game with a double to deep left center before moving to third on a Donnie Walton groundout. Evan White then hit a grounder to shortstop that Van Horn threw away to first for an error. Brigman, who was initially holding at third on the play, was able to score the first run of the game while White advanced to second on the misplay. Logan Taylor then stepped to the plate and drove a fly ball to deep right center for a triple as White scored to make it 2-0. A two-out walk to Joe Rizzo put runners on the corners before Gareth Morgan belted a three-run home run to deep center for a 5-0 Nuts advantage.
The Giants immediately got two runs back in the bottom of the first as Johnson and Miller produced back-to-back singles to start the inning before Jacob Heyward walked to load the bases with none out. Following a Heath Quinn strikeout, Brusa bounced a single through the hole on the right side to plate Johnson and Miller bringing San Jose to within 5-2.
Modesto though came right back with a three-run top of the second against Vizcaino. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Walton walked and White singled. A 14-minute delay then ensued when several lights at Municipal Stadium went out and after returning to action, Taylor hammered a double to deep left center scoring both runners to make it 7-2. Nick Zammarelli then singled home Taylor pushing the Nuts lead to 8-2.
San Jose chipped away with single tallies in the third and fourth innings. In the bottom of the third, Quinn led off by reaching on an error and scored when Franco connected for a two-out RBI double to deep left center. An inning later, Van Horn led off with a double, took third on a wild pick-off throw and scored when Johnson grounded out to make it 8-4.
The Giants though left two runners on base in the fifth before stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth. In the seventh, with the score still 8-4, Fabian led off with a double before Franco singled to put runners on the corners. Matt Winn followed by drawing a walk to load the bases. Van Horn then struck out before Johnson hit a grounder to third that was fielded by Rizzo, who threw errantly to home in an attempt to force out Fabian. The throwing error allowed a run to score as San Jose trimmed the deficit to 8-5 while the bases remained loaded. The Giants, however, would get no closer as Miller struck out and Heyward grounded out to end the inning.
Modesto then responded with a five-run outburst in the top of the eighth to take control. Reliever Rodolfo Martinez issued a pair of walks as the Nuts had runners at first and second with two outs. Walton then hit a grounder to first that Brusa picked-up, but his throw to Martinez covering at first base sailed away and bounced into foul territory. The costly error scored one run as the Nuts increased the lead to 9-5. A wild pitch then scored another run before White delivered an RBI single to make it 11-5. Following two more walks from Martinez to load the bases, new pitcher Carlos Diaz surrendered a single to Rizzo plating two runs for a 13-5 margin. Modesto scored five runs on only two hits in the inning. Martinez walked four and uncorked three wild pitches in the top of the eighth.
The Giants' final run came in the bottom of the eighth when Franco knocked out a two-out RBI single to make the score 13-6.
Jeffeson Medina (1-0) was credited with the win out of the Nuts bullpen after holding San Jose scoreless over the fifth and sixth innings. Medina pitched around three hits and two walks during his two innings of work.
Vizcaino (1-1) suffered the loss for the Giants. The right-hander was charged with eight runs (four earned) on six hits over two innings. Vizcaino walked two and struck out three.
Notes
* San Jose's three-game losing streak is a season-high. The three-game skid has followed a season-high four-game winning streak.
* Modesto won comfortably on Thursday despite getting out-hit by a 13-10 margin.
* The Giants' 13 runs allowed and 10 walks were both season-high totals.
* With two hits, Miller raised his season batting average to .333 - tied for seventh in the California League.
* Michael Cederoth (3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 SO) and Nolan Riggs (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) combined for five hitless innings of relief from the third through the seventh for the Giants.
* Franco is 5-for-9 (.556 AVG) with four RBI's over his last two games.
* Thursday was the first of 30 meetings between San Jose and Modesto this season.
On Deck
The Giants and Nuts continue their four-game series on Friday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Melvin Adon (0-1, 3.68 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Randy Bell (1-0, 2.13 ERA). It's First Responders Night, presented by Alliance Credit Union. Come celebrate the police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and all the brave men and women who serve and protect our community. First responders who show their badge or ID at the Box Office will receive FREE admission for themselves and their families. Friday at the ballpark also features a spectacular postgame fireworks show. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.
• Discuss this story on the California League message board...
California League Stories from April 20, 2018
- 66ers Offense Scores in Bunches, Gatto Shines on Mound - Inland Empire 66ers
- Tough Ninth Drops Quakes in Series-Opener - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Holder Strong in First Start, but 'Hawks Fall - Lancaster JetHawks
- Sloppy Giants Suffer 13-6 Loss to Nuts - San Jose Giants
- Offense Lags as Ports Fall 4-0 - Stockton Ports
- Nuts Secure Second Straight Win with 13-6 Triumph - Modesto Nuts
- Connor Grey Dominant as Rawhide Roll - Visalia Rawhide
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
