Surging Giants Win Fifth Straight Over Fresno
Published on June 19, 2022 under California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release
The San Jose Giants won their season-high tying fifth game in a row with a 9-6 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies on Sunday afternoon at Excite Ballpark. Yorlis Rodriguez homered and drove in five runs to lead the way offensively as the Giants won five of six against the first-place Grizzlies this week. The win pulled San Jose (37-26) within two games of Fresno (39-24) in the North Division race with only three games remaining in the first half.
The Giants, who fell seven games behind Fresno after their loss in last Tuesday's series opener, avoided elimination in the first half race with wins in each of the last five days. San Jose closes out the first half with three games in Stockton this Tuesday through Thursday while the Grizzlies return home to play Modesto. The first half winner clinches a playoff berth.
After scoring in five straight innings to finish Saturday's game, the Giants kept rolling offensively on Sunday by scoring in the first three innings of the contest. After Fresno plated a run in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead, San Jose immediately answered with a two-run bottom of the first. Back-to-back singles from Aeverson Arteaga and Grant McCray started the rally before Hayden Cantrelle's fly out to right advanced the runners to second and third. Victor Bericoto followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game and then Rodriguez delivered a two-out RBI single giving the Giants a 2-1 advantage.
San Jose then added single tallies in the second and third innings to extend their lead. In the second, Garrett Frechette led off with a double, advanced to third on Arteaga's fly out and scored when McCray grounded into a force out. An inning later, Cantrelle drew a leadoff walk before Bericoto singled to put runners on the corners. Two batters later, Carter Williams' sacrifice fly plated Cantrelle to make it 4-1.
Meanwhile, Landen Roupp was on the mound for the Giants making his first start of the season. Roupp, who had previously worked in a piggyback long relief role, tossed three straight scoreless innings from the second through the fourth after Fresno's single run in the top of the first. The Grizzlies added another run in the top of the fifth on Warming Bernabel's two-out RBI double, but San Jose got it right back in the bottom of the frame. McCray led off with a single and stole second. After Cantrelle walked, Bericoto grounded into a double play. However with two outs, Rodriguez delivered his second RBI hit of the game as he singled home McCray for a 5-2 Giants lead.
Roupp returned to the mound in the top of the sixth and quickly set down the first two batters before issuing a walk to Ben Sems. Trevor McDonald was then summoned from the bullpen and he promptly retired Trevor Boone on a soft line out to shortstop ending the inning.
Fresno would come back with a run in the seventh against McDonald as Zach Kokoska led off with a double and scored on Yanquiel Fernandez's two-out single. The RBI hit brought the Grizzlies to within 5-3, but McDonald was able to limit the damage when he retired the next batter, Bernabel, on a fly out to center.
Rodriguez then came through with a big swing of the bat in the bottom of the seventh to increase the San Jose lead. McCray started the inning with a single before Cantrelle drew a walk. Then with one out, Rodriguez stepped to the plate and launched a three-run home run down the left field line. The round-tripper was Rodriguez's sixth of the season and it pushed the Giants lead to 8-3.
Fresno though immediately got back into the game with three runs of their own in the top of the eighth. With Tyler Myrick on the mound for San Jose, Hunter Goodman led off the inning with his league-leading 18th home run of the season to make it 8-4. Juan Guerrero followed the big fly with a single and then immediately scored when the next batter, Sems, doubled to left. Trevor Boone was up next and he also produced an RBI double to trim the San Jose lead to 8-6 and bring the potential tying run to the plate. Myrick though was able to settle down and retire the next three hitters on a groundout, a line out and a fly out to end the inning.
The Giants scored their ninth and final run of the day in the bottom of the eighth when Ronaldo Flores crushed a mammoth solo home run to left. It was Flores' second homer of the year and it stretched the San Jose lead to 9-6.
Spencer Bivens then slammed the door with a scoreless top of the ninth to pick-up his first save of the season. Bivens allowed a two-out single to Goodman, but came back to set down Guerrero on a pop out to end the game.
The Giants won the final five games of their series against first-place Fresno this week
GIANTS NOTES
Five-Game Win Streak: With victories in the final five games of the series against Fresno, the Giants have matched their longest win streak of the season. San Jose also won five straight from April 19-23 and May 11-15.
Rodriguez's Big Day: Yorlis Rodriguez (3-for-4, HR, 5 RBI) became the first Giants player to record five RBI's in a game this season.
Inside The Box Score: Grant McCray (3-for-4, RBI, 2 SB) also finished with a three-hit game for San Jose. Fresno out-hit the Giants 13-11.
Roupp's First Start: Landen Roupp (4-2) earned the win on the mound for the Giants. Roupp pitched a season-high 5 2/3 innings in his start with only two runs (both earned) allowed. Roupp surrendered six hits, walked two and struck out three during his 85-pitch outing.
Home Cooking: The Giants improved to 14-3 in their last 17 home games.
On Deck: The Giants enjoy an off day on Monday and then travel to Stockton for a six-game set against the Ports. Tuesday's series opener is a 7:05 PM first pitch at Banner Island Ballpark. The first half concludes following Thursday's game with Friday's contest marking the beginning of the second half. The entire series can be heard live on sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from June 19, 2022
- Surging Giants Win Fifth Straight Over Fresno - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Stay in Playoff Hunt with Sunday's Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Seven doubles not enough as Grizzlies stumble 9-6 to Giants on Father's Day - Fresno Grizzlies
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at San Jose - Fresno Grizzlies
- Myers Strong, Bats Quiet as Ports Fall in Visalia - Stockton Ports
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