CalL1 San Jose Giants

Sweep Bid Falls Short With 4-3 Loss

Published on July 26, 2019 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Visalia's Anfernee Grier homered to leadoff the bottom of the ninth lifting the Rawhide to a 4-3 win over the Giants on Thursday night at Recreation Park. San Jose jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but could not hold off Visalia as the Rawhide rallied late to tie the game before Grier's walk-off blast. Despite the loss, the Giants still won two of three against Visalia to claim their fourth straight series victory.

San Jose built their early lead on the strength of a pair of solo homers and an RBI double. In the top of the first, Joey Bart stepped to the plate with two down and lined a solo homer to left. The home run was Bart's 11th of the season.

The Giants extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the second as Dalton Combs drew a two-out walk and scored all the way from first when Heath Quinn blasted a double off the fence in deep left center. An inning later, Manuel Geraldo drilled a solo homer down the right field line for a 3-0 cushion.

Unfortunately, San Jose would not score again for the remainder of the contest and the Rawhide rallied. Aaron Phillips started on the mound for the Giants and did not allow a hit over the first four innings. Visalia, however, broke through against Phillips with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Grier doubled with one out before an Alex King two-out infield single extended the inning. Leadoff batter Eduardo Diaz then stepped to the plate and laced a triple to the fence in deep right easily scoring both runners to trim the San Jose lead to 3-2. Phillips would recover to strikeout the next hitter, Jancarlos Cintron, to retire the side.

With the Giants ahead by a run, Casey Meisner entered from the bullpen to begin the bottom of the sixth and began his night with a perfect inning. The Rawhide though scratched across a run against Meisner in the seventh to tie the game. Consecutive one-out singles from Grier and Max Murphy put runners on first and second before a walk to King loaded the bases. Diaz followed with a grounder to third that David Villar fielded and threw to second to force out King. Kyle McPherson's relay to first, however, was a half-step late as the speedy Diaz beat the throw to pick-up the RBI. Grier scored on the play to tie the game 3-3 before Meisner retired Cintron on a line out to short ending the inning.

San Jose picked-up a pair of late singles, but could not reclaim the lead against the Visalia bullpen. Villar singled with one out in the top of the eighth, but was stranded at first. In the ninth, Combs led off with a single before the next three Giants batters were set down.

Meisner then returned to the mound for the bottom of the ninth and was greeted by Grier, who launched a 2-1 pitch over the fence in left for the game-winning home run.

GIANTS NOTES

Rawhide Avoid First Sweep

First-place Visalia has still not been swept in a series this season. The Giants were attempting to sweep a series at Recreation Park for the first time since July 2011.

Bart Bash

Joey Bart (2-for-4, HR, RBI) homered for the second straight game. His 11 homers this season are now one behind Heliot Ramos for the team lead. Bart has hit five home runs in his last 12 games.

At The Plate

Heath Quinn (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and David Villar (2-for-4) also finished with multi-hit games for the Giants. Manuel Geraldo's (1-for-5, HR, RBI) home run was his second of the year. Sandro Fabian (0-for-4) saw his hitting streak snapped at 10 games.

Phillips' Start

Aaron Phillips worked five innings with three hits and two runs (both earned) allowed during his start. The right-hander walked three and struck out four. Phillips was making his first start with San Jose in 11 days. His most recent outing came in a spot start with Triple-A Sacramento on July 19 in Tacoma (6 IP, 1 R, 7 SO).

Standings Update

The loss dropped San Jose (17-18) to two games behind Visalia (19-16) for the top spot in the North Division. Following Thursday's contest, the Giants reached the midpoint of the 70-game second half. San Jose has six games remaining against the Rawhide this season (August 13-15 at Recreation Park, August 27-29 at Excite Ballpark).

On Deck

The Giants continue their road trip with a three-game series in Modesto. San Jose will be attempting to win three straight road series' for the first time this season. Friday's opener against the Nuts is a 7:05 PM first pitch at John Thurman Field with Matt Frisbee scheduled to make the start on the mound.

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California League Stories from July 26, 2019


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