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CalL1 San Jose Giants

Von Schell's Grand Slam Ignites 13-2 Giants Victory

June 1, 2007 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Tyler Von Schell's grand slam sparked a seven-run bottom of the sixth inning for the Giants erasing a Bakersfield lead en route to a 13-2 San Jose victory in the series-opener Thursday night. In front of 1,642 fans at Municipal Stadium, the Giants matched their season-high in runs scored with Von Schell's dramatic home run giving San Jose a 4-2 advantage. David Maroul (4-for-5, HR, 4 RBI) added his team-leading ninth home run of the season while Paul Oseguera earned the win on the mound with seven strong innings of work. With the victory, San Jose improves their record to 31-22 and now holds a three-game lead in the First Half North Division race.

Trailing 2-0, Antoan Richardson started the sixth-inning rally with a bunt single to third base. Brian Bocock followed with a bunt single of his own before Ben Copeland drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Facing Blaze starting pitcher Michael Schlact, Von Schell laced the first pitch of his at-bat for a line drive, grand slam over the fence in left field. The blast was Von Schell's fourth home run and San Jose's first grand slam of the year.

Anthony Contreras followed Von Schell's home run with a single into right field before Mike Mooney singled putting runners on first and third. Contreras scored when the next batter, Adam Witter, grounded out to make it a 5-2 contest. Maroul then blooped a single into right field plating Mooney with the sixth run of the frame. Pablo Sandoval capped the inning with a line drive double into the left center field gap scoring Maroul for a 7-2 Giants advantage.

Oseguera allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits during his stint on the mound. The left-hander walked two and struck out a season-high seven.

Bocock (2-for-4, 2B) joined Maroul as only Giants players to record multi-hit games at the plate. San Jose out-hit the Blaze by a 12-6 margin.

The Giants added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh when Mooney drew a one-out walk from reliever Josh Giles before Maroul connected for a two-out, two-run homer to left center.

In the eighth, a fielding error, a walk, and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with none out. Von Schell then drew a four-pitch walk to force home one run before Conteras' double play brought home another score. Two batters later, Witter scored the third run of the inning and San Jose's 13th tally of the evening with a single into left field.

Schlact took the loss for the Blaze after surrendering seven runs (all earned) on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander silenced the Giants bats through five innings yielding just two hits and no runs as his club built a 2-0 lead.

Bakersfield jumped in front in the top of the second inning when Terry Blunt delivered a one-out RBI single. In the sixth, Taylor Teagarden drove an Oseguera pitch over the fence in center field for a solo home run.

Kelvin Pichardo (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO) and Taylor Wilding (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) each threw perfect innings out of the bullpen to finish the game for San Jose.

Notes: The Giants also scored 13 runs in a 13-1 victory at Bakersfield on May 4 ... San Jose had only homered four times in their first 24 home games before Thursday ... Von Schell finished the evening with five RBI giving him 21 in his first 18 games with the Giants ... Richardson stole his team-leading 22nd base of the season ... Copeland returned from the disabled list before the game having not played since April 23 due to a strained oblique muscle ... Hitting third in the order, he finished 0-for-1 with three walks and a hit by pitch ... Every Giants starter recorded at least one hit with the exception of Copeland and catcher Barry Gunther who left in the second inning with an apparent injury after getting struck with a foul ball ... Oseguera lowered his ERA to 2.97 while improving his record to 4-2 ... San Jose now holds a three-game advantage over the Stockton Ports (28-25) and a 3 ½ game lead on the Modesto Nuts (28-26) after the Ports defeated the Nuts 8-7 Thursday ... The Giants finished the month of May with an even .500 record (14-14) ... Pitcher Dave McKae (5-1, 1.93 ERA) has been promoted to Connecticut (AA) while Darren Sack re-joined the Giants from the Defenders after sharing the 2006 San Jose Pitcher of the Year award.

On Deck: The Giants and Blaze continue this three-game series Friday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 P.M. Ronnie Ray (4-2, 5.36 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Bakersfield is expected to counter with Bear Bay (3-3, 4.15 ERA). It's a KFOX Family Friday at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.

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