CalL San Jose Giants

Wright's Home Run Propels Giants to Series Victory

Published on June 5, 2022 under California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release


Max Wright hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to propel the San Jose Giants to a 6-5 win over the Stockton Ports on Sunday evening at Excite Ballpark. After Stockton had rallied to take their first lead of the game in the top of the seventh, Wright's blast in the bottom of the inning immediately put San Jose back in front and the Giants would hold on late for the victory. With the win, San Jose (30-21) claimed four of six games in the series against the Ports this week.

Wright and Victor Bericoto (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) smacked homers to account for five of the six Giants runs on Sunday. Grant McCray (4-for-5, 2B, SB) also knocked out four hits from the leadoff spot in the lineup.

San Jose used a first-inning home run to take an early lead on Stockton for a second straight night. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Vaun Brown was hit by a pitch before Riley Mahan singled. Bericoto was up next and he crushed a towering three-run home run down the left field line to make it 3-0. The homer was Bericoto's fifth of the season.

The Giants then extended their lead to 4-0 with a single tally in the bottom of the third. Mahan drew a leadoff walk before Garrett Frechette grounded a single into right to put runners on the corners. Yorlis Rodriguez was then retired on a slow grounder back to the pitcher, but the play scored Mahan from third for a 4-0 San Jose advantage.

Meanwhile, Keaton Winn started on the mound for the Giants and began his outing with three scoreless innings. Winn pitched around a two-out double in the first before breezing through a perfect second inning. In the third, Cooper Uhl led off with a double, but advanced no further as Winn kept the Ports off the board. Stockton though would breakthrough in the top of the fourth scoring twice to cut the San Jose lead in half. Kevin Richards led off with a single before Pedro Pineda worked a one-out walk. Then with two down, Uhl stepped up and laced a double into the left center gap plating both runners to bring Stockton to within 4-2.

Winn recovered with a scoreless top of the fifth to end his night before reliever Julio Rodriguez struck out three in the sixth inning to maintain the two-run advantage. Esmerlin Vinicio then entered from the bullpen to begin the top of the seventh and would run into trouble as the Ports put together a three-run rally. With one out, Robert Puason singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a passed ball. After Mariano Ricciardi walked, Max Muncy ripped a double over the head of center fielder Alexander Suarez. The hit brought home Puason to make it a 4-3 game while Ricciardi, the potential tying run, stopped at third. Vinicio came back to retire Denzel Clarke on a foul out for the second out of the inning, but Richards then stepped to the plate and blasted a two-RBI double to the fence in deep left giving Stockton a 5-4 lead.

Trailing for the first time in the game, the Giants had an answer in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Frechette lined a single into center. Then with two down, Wright launched a 2-1 pitch over the fence in deep right field for a dramatic go-ahead two-run home run. The round-tripper was Wright's first of the season as San Jose reclaimed the lead at 6-5.

Hunter Dula took over on the mound in the top of the eighth and worked a 1-2-3 inning to keep the Giants ahead. Tyler Myrick was then summoned to begin the top of the ninth and was able to strand the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position to seal the victory. With one out, Muncy singled before Clarke doubled to deep right center putting runners on second and third. Myrick though came back to set down Richards on a pop out to first and Shane McGuire on a groundout to shortstop to end the game.

Max Wright's first home run of the season propelled the Giants past Stockton on Sunday night

GIANTS NOTES

Series Review: The Giants opened the series against Stockton with back-to-back wins on Monday and Wednesday before the Ports claimed the next two games on Thursday and Friday. San Jose though responded with consecutive victories Saturday and Sunday to earn the series win. The Giants are 8-4 versus the Ports this season.

Inside The Box Score: Both teams finished with 11 hits on Sunday. Garrett Frechette (2-for-4) also had a multi-hit game for the Giants to extend his hitting streak to seven games. San Jose won despite going 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position (only hit was Victor Bericoto's first-inning homer).

On The Mound: Keaton Winn pitched a season-high five innings in his start with two runs (both earned) allowed. Winn surrendered five hits, walked two and struck out two. Tyler Myrick earned his team-leading fourth save of the season.

Winning Ways: The Giants have won nine out of their last 11 home games.

First Half Race: With Sunday's victory, San Jose (30-21) pulled to within two games of first-place Fresno (32-19) in the first half North Division race. There are 15 games remaining in the half.

On Deck: Following an off day, the Giants travel to Southern California for a six-game series against the Lake Elsinore Storm. Tuesday's series opener is a 6:05 PM first pitch at The Diamond. Will Bednar is San Jose's scheduled starting pitcher. The entire series can be heard live on sjgiants.com.

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