CalL San Jose Giants

Sweep Bid Falls Short In Visalia, Win Streak Snapped At Five

June 11, 2023 - California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release


The San Jose Giants bid for a six-game sweep in Visalia fell short on Sunday afternoon with a 3-2 loss to the host Rawhide at Valley Strong Ballpark. Visalia went ahead for good with a single run in the bottom of the seventh sending the Giants to only their third defeat in the last 14 games overall. Despite the setback, San Jose (37-20) claimed five of six in the series this week while their magic number to clinch the first half North Division title remained at two.

Matt Higgins (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Onil Perez (2-for-4, 3B) had two hits apiece to lead the Giants at the plate in the loss. San Jose was held to only five hits.

Two-way player Reggie Crawford, who blasted his first career home run earlier in the series, started on the mound in Sunday's contest. Crawford pitched the first two innings and allowed two runs (both earned) on two hits. He walked none and struck out three.

Crawford began his outing with a perfect bottom of the first collecting a pair of strikeouts in the inning. The Rawhide though would score twice against the left-hander in the bottom of the second to take a 2-0 lead. Kristian Robinson led off the frame with a solo home run to right - his second round-tripper of the season. David Martin was then hit by a pitch and would later score on a two-out double off the bat of Jose Fernandez to give Visalia a second run in the inning.

The game would then remain at 2-0 all the way until the top of the seventh. Piggyback reliever Hayden Birdsong excelled out of the bullpen for the Giants firing four scoreless innings with three hits allowed, one walk and six strikeouts. Birdsong lowered his ERA to 2.16 and has now struck out an impressive 70 batters in 41 2/3 innings pitched this season.

Offensively, however, San Jose managed only two hits over the first six innings - a Perez two-out triple in the top of the first and a Higgins single with two outs in the fourth. Finally in the seventh, the Giants broke through for a pair of runs to tie the game. Perez led off the inning with a single and immediately scored when the next batter, Higgins, smacked a double to center. Higgins was then at third base with two outs before scoring the tying run on P.J. Hilson's infield single.

The Rawhide would immediately respond though scoring once in the bottom of the seventh to take back the lead. Sam Delaplane was summoned out of the San Jose bullpen and he promptly allowed a leadoff triple to Juan Corniel. After Alvin Guzman struck out and Manuel Pena walked, Delaplane uncorked a wild pitch allowing Corniel to score giving Visalia a 3-2 advantage.

The Giants were then retired 1-2-3 in the eighth and ninth innings as Visalia closed out the game to avoid the sweep.

The Rawhide out-hit San Jose by a 6-5 margin. Delaplane (0-2) was saddled with the loss out of the Giants bullpen. Four San Jose hurlers - Crawford, Birdsong, Delaplane and Will Kempner - combined to record 14 strikeouts.

Following an off day, the Giants return to Excite Ballpark for their final home series of the first half - a six-game set against Dodgers affiliate Rancho Cucamonga. Tuesday's series opener versus the Quakes at Excite Ballpark is a 6:30 PM first pitch. Visit sjgiants.com for tickets and information on upcoming promotions.

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California League Stories from June 11, 2023


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