Giants Sweep Nuts, Win Sixth Game In A Row

MODESTO - The San Jose Giants completed a three-game sweep of the host Modesto Nuts with a convincing 10-2 victory on Thursday evening at John Thurman Field. San Jose took control of the game early with a five-run top of the second inning en route to earning their season-high sixth consecutive win.

Elliott Blair (4-for-5, 2B, 4 RBI) had four hits and drove home four runs to lead the offensive attack. Ben Turner (3-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Shawn Payne (3-for-4, 2 RBI) added three hits apiece as San Jose's 16 hits in the contest matched a season-high.

Pat Young (6-3) picked-up the win after limiting Modesto to two runs (both earned) on three hits over the first six innings. Young walked one and struck out six.

The Giants produced five straight hits with one out in the top of the second inning with all five runners coming home to score for an early 5-0 lead. Consecutive singles from Brian Ragira and Brandon Bednar started the rally before Turner ripped an RBI single into center for the first run of the game. Blair then stepped to the plate and hammered a double into deep left center plating two more for a 3-0 advantage. Ydwin Villegas was up next and he lined a single into left to score Blair and then with two outs, Payne produced an RBI single to make it 5-0.

Meanwhile, Young began his start with two hitless innings before surrendering one run in the bottom of the third. A leadoff single from Derek Jones was followed by an RBI double off the bat of Kyle Von Tungeln to cut the lead to 5-1. Young though quickly got out of the inning as Rosell Herrera flied out, Von Tungeln was thrown out at third base attempting to steal and Chris O'Dowd struck out.

San Jose then erupted for their second big inning of the night with a four-run top of the fourth. Turner started the frame with a double into the right center field gap before immediately scoring when the next batter, Blair, singled up the middle. After Villegas singled and Chuckie Jones walked to load the bases, Payne delivered a sacrifice fly to right for a 7-1 advantage. Jones then stole second and when the catcher O'Dowd threw wildly to second for an error, Villegas raced home with the third run of the inning. Mitch Delfino followed with an RBI double down the left field line to extend the lead to 9-1 and chase Modesto starter Matt Flemer.

Flemer (7-6) was saddled with the loss after allowing a season-high nine runs (all earned) on 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out one.

Young worked 1-2-3 fourth and fifth innings and had retired eight straight Nuts hitters until Von Tungeln was hit by a pitch to leadoff the bottom of the sixth. Two batters later, O'Dowd was also plunked before Jordan Ribera's two-out, infield single scored a run to make it 9-2. Young though came back to strikeout Pat Valaika to end the inning and his night on the mound.

Jeff Soptic (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 SO) relieved Young to begin the bottom of the seventh and worked two hitless innings out of the bullpen. Soptic issued three walks, but used a pair of double plays during his relief stint to keep Modesto off the scoreboard.

The Giants scored their final run of the evening in the top of the ninth as Blake Miller reached on an error to leadoff, moved to second on Turner's two-out walk and scored on Blair's single.

Tyler Rogers (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) finished the game with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.

Notes: The Giants swept a road series for the first time this season … San Jose outscored Modesto 25-7 during the three-game set … The #6 through #9 hitters on Thursday were a combined 11-for-19 with seven runs scored and six RBI's … The Giants out-hit the Nuts 16-3 … Villegas (2-for-5, RBI) and Bednar (2-for-5) also produced multi-hit games at the plate … San Jose was 7-for-13 with runners in scoring position … The Giants (42-42) are at .500 overall for the first time since June 12.

On Deck: The Giants begin a seven-game homestand on Friday evening with the first of four straight contests against the Stockton Ports at Municipal Stadium. First pitch for the Fourth of July game is scheduled for 6:30 PM. Chris Stratton (5-7, 4.79 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Jake Sanchez (1-0, 1.38 ERA). The game is already a sellout, but live television coverage is available on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104.