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CalL1 San Jose Giants

Stockton Shocks Giants In Ninth Inning To Even Series

September 7, 2008 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


The Stockton Ports scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning against Giants closer Dan Otero to come-from-behind and defeat San Jose by a 7-6 score in Game Two of the North Division Series on Sunday evening at Municipal Stadium. Chris Carter delivered a two-run triple into the right field corner to tie the score before Josh Donaldson singled home the go-ahead run as the Ports evened the series at a game apiece. Game Three will be played on Monday night at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 P.M.

The Giants mustered only five hits in the contest, but held a 5-1 lead after six innings and carried a 6-4 advantage into the top of the ninth. Buster Posey (2-for-4, RBI) was the lone San Jose player to finish with a multiple-hit game while Brad Boyer connected for a solo home run.

In the top of the ninth, reliever Joe Paterson struck out pinch-hitter Alex Valdez to begin the frame. Paterson, who struck out four over 1 2/3 scoreless innings, was then lifted from the game in favor of Otero. Otero allowed back-to-back infield singles to shortstop to the next two hitters, Archie Gilbert and Josh Horton, to bring the potential go-ahead run to the plate. Carter was up next and he belted an 0-1 pitch into the right field corner that bounced off the base of the fence for a triple. The hit scored both runners to tie the game at 6-6.

The Giants then elected to intentionally walk the next hitter, Matt Spencer, bringing Donaldson to the plate. The Ports catcher then smoked an 0-1 pitch off the fence in right field for a long single as Carter jogged home with the go-ahead tally. Otero did rebound to strikeout Corey Brown before Jermaine Mitchell grounded out on a diving stop at second base made by Boyer to keep the San Jose deficit at one run.

Mike Benacka entered the game to start the bottom of the ninth and worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning to record the save. James Heuser was credited with the victory out of the Stockton bullpen after yielding one run and one hit over 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Otero suffered the loss after he was tagged for three runs (all earned) on four hits in just 2/3 of an inning. Otero walked two and struck out one.

Kevin Pucetas started on the mound for the Giants and tossed six impressive innings with just one run and four hits allowed. The California League Pitcher of the Year walked only one and struck out five during his 87-pitch performance.

San Jose jumped ahead with three runs in the bottom of the third inning against Ports starting pitcher Tyson Ross. Andy D'Alessio started the frame by drawing a walk before Sharlon Schoop reached on an infield single to shortstop to put runners on first and second. After Tyler Graham struck out, Bobby Felmy reached on a fielding error committed by Ross to load the bases. Mike McBryde followed with a chopper to second base that Frank Martinez fielded, but his throw to the shortstop Horton was low and skipped into shallow left field to easily both D'Alessio and Schoop with the first two runs of the evening. Matt Downs then delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Felmy for a 3-0 advantage.

Stockton cut into the Giants lead in the top of the fourth inning when Donaldson connected for a two-out, solo homer down the left field line. Pucetas needed just seven pitches to retire the Ports 1-2-3 in the fifth before working through a two-out single and a walk in the sixth inning to keep the Giants lead at 3-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, San Jose scored twice to move in front by a 5-1 margin. McBryde led off the frame with a line drive single into center field before advancing to second base on Downs' ground out. After McBryde stole third, Boyer drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Posey was up next and he grounded a single through the left side of the infield to plate McBryde while Boyer moved all the way to third base. Brett Pill then lifted a sacrifice fly down the right field line to score Boyer with the second run of the inning.

Taylor Wilding (2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO) relieved Pucetas to begin the seventh and struggled mightily allowing three consecutive doubles to Martinez, Mitchell and Mike Massaro to begin the frame. Massaro's double made the score 5-3 and he eventually scored three batters later on Carter's sacrifice fly to left. Paterson was then summoned from the bullpen and he promptly struck out Spencer to end the inning and strand the potential tying run at first base.

Paterson worked through a leadoff, infield single off the bat of Donaldson in the eighth striking out the last two hitters to keep the San Jose lead intact. In the bottom of the inning, Boyer crushed a two-out, solo homer to deep right center field to make the score 6-4.

Notes: The Giants suffered their first loss at home this season when leading after eight innings ... Including the postseason, Otero had converted 10 consecutive save opportunities dating back to August 3 and had not allowed a run in his last 12 appearances ... Stockton out-hit San Jose by a 13-5 margin ... Every Ports starter had at least one hit with Donaldson (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) leading the charge.

On Deck: The Giants and Ports will play Game Three of this best-of-five series on Monday night at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 P.M. Clayton Tanner (10-8, 3.69 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while the Ports are expected to counter with Scott Mitchinson (1-0, 1.69 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

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