JetHawks Cruise Past Giants, 12-5

LANCASTER, CA - San Jose's bid for a series sweep in Lancaster fell short on Sunday afternoon as the JetHawks pounded out 18 hits on their way to a 12-5 win at The Hangar. Lancaster never looked back after a five-run bottom of the fourth inning to salvage the final game of the three-game series. Despite the loss, the Giants (18-13) remain in a three-way tie for first place with Stockton and Visalia atop the first half North Division standings.
Frandy De La Rosa (1-for-4, HR, RBI), Heath Quinn (1-for-4, HR, RBI) and Gio Brusa (1-for-4, HR, RBI) each homered for San Jose in defeat. Bryce Johnson (2-for-4, 2B) and Connor Sabanosh (2-for-4) added two hits apiece.
Lancaster starter Rico Garcia (4-2) earned the win after tossing eight innings with five runs (all earned) and 10 hits allowed. Garcia, who entered Sunday leading the California League in strikeouts, walked one and struck out seven. Roberto Ramos (4-for-4, 2B, HR, 5 RBI) had four hits, including a key three-run home run, to lead the JetHawks offensive attack.
The Giants enjoyed an early lead in the contest scoring three times in the top of the second to move in front by a 3-1 margin. With two outs and the bases empty, De La Rosa stepped to the plate and launched a home run to deep left center to tie the game 1-1. The homer was De La Rosa's team-leading fifth of the season. Back-to-back singles from
Sabanosh and Johneshwy Fargas followed before Johnson walked to load the bases. Jalen Miller was up next and he lined a single into left center scoring both Sabanosh and Fargas for a 3-1 lead.
Melvin Adon started on the mound San Jose and allowed just one unearned run over the first two innings before running into trouble in the bottom of the third. With the Giants still ahead by two runs, the inning began with a double off the bat of Forrest Wall. Alan Trejo then blasted an RBI triple off the fence in deep left center to bring Lancaster to within 3-2. Two batters later, Ramos delivered an RBI single to tie the game 3-3.
San Jose threatened in the top of the fourth, but had the potential go-ahead run thrown out at the plate. Sabanosh singled and was at first base with two outs when Johnson laced a ball into the left field corner for a double. Sabanosh attempted to score on the play, but was thrown out at home to end the inning as the game remained tied. The JetHawks then erupted for five runs in the bottom of the frame to take control of the game.
Consecutive singles from Joel Diaz and Carlos Herrera started the pivotal bottom of the fourth for Lancaster before Wall was hit by a pitch to load the bases with none out. After Trejo popped out, Colton Welker ripped a double to the fence in deep right plating two runs to give the JetHawks a 5-3 lead. Ramos was up next and he belted a three-run home run to straightway center for an 8-3 Lancaster advantage. The homer was Ramos' team-leading ninth of the season and it knocked Adon out of the game.
The Giants got one run back in the top of the fifth when Quinn hit a solo homer to deep right center - his third round-tripper of the year.
The JetHawks though added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth with two runs against reliever CJ Gettman (1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO). A two-out passed ball with a runner at third brought home the first run before Trejo connected for a solo home run to center to make it 10-4.
Lancaster kept the pressure on with single tallies in the sixth and seventh innings facing Dylan Rheault (2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) to stretch their lead to 12-4. In the sixth, Ramos doubled, Vince Fernandez singled and then a Willie Abreu double play scored a run. An inning later, three JetHawks singles produced a run with Ramos delivering the two-out RBI hit.
Brusa smacked a solo home run to left in the top of the eighth to trim the deficit to 12-5, but San Jose would get no closer as Lancaster coasted to the victory.
Adon (0-3) suffered the loss after yielding a season-high eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked none.
Notes
* The Giants were attempting to sweep their first series of the season.
* Lancaster out-hit San Jose 18-10.
* The JetHawks had 22 at-bats with runners in scoring position (7-for-22) compared to just two at-bats for the Giants (1-for-2).
* De La Rosa has homered in back-to-back games.
* Quinn extended his hitting streak to seven games.
* Gettman was making his California League debut after joining San Jose on Saturday from Augusta (A).
* The #2 through #4 hitters in the Lancaster lineup (Trejo, Welker and Ramos) went a combined 9-for-14 with six runs scored and 10 RBI's.
* The Giants finished 4-2 at The Hangar this season (7.8 runs per game).
On Deck
Following an off day, the Giants continue their road trip on Tuesday evening with the opener of a three-game series in Modesto. First pitch at John Thurman Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Logan Webb (1-1, 1.06 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while the Nuts are expected to counter with Ljay Newsome (1-2, 6.82 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:45 PM.