Giants Split In Stockton After 11-1 Loss

STOCKTON - The Stockton Ports scored seven runs over the first two innings before cruising to an 11-1 victory over the San Jose Giants on Monday evening at Banner Island Ballpark. The Ports knocked out 19 hits in the contest - the most allowed by the Giants in a game this season. With the loss, San Jose splits the four-game series in Stockton.

Brandon Bednar (3-for-5) and Elliott Blair (2-for-3) each produced multi-hit games to lead the Giants offensively in defeat. San Jose finished the contest with nine hits, but left 10 on base and was just 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

The Ports jumped out early scoring four times in the bottom of the first inning against Giants starter Joe Biagini. With one out, Daniel Robertson singled before Oakland A's right fielder Josh Reddick, who was starting a rehabilitation assignment on Monday, belted a two-run home run to right. Matt Olson was up next and he connected for a home run to left - his league-leading 26th round tripper of the season. The rally continued when Renato Nunez doubled down the left field line before Ryon Healy delivered an RBI single to make it 4-0.

Stockton kept the pressure on with three more runs in the bottom of the second. Chad Oberacker led off with a single before stealing second. After Jaycob Brugman struck out, Robertson singled to put runners on the corners. Reddick then stepped to the plate and smacked a double off the wall in left center plating Oberacker for a 5-0 advantage. After Olson grounded out to score another run, Nunez produced an RBI single extending the lead to 7-0 and ending Biagini's night.

Biagini (6-6) took the loss after surrendering a season-high seven runs (all earned) on nine hits over 1 2/3 innings - his shortest start of the year. Biagini struck out three and walked none.

San Jose scored their only run of the game in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Bednar singled before moving to second on a wild pitch. Brian Ragira then ripped a double into the right center field gap to bring home Bednar cutting the lead to 7-1.

The Giants threatened in the fifth and sixth innings against Stockton starter Jake Sanchez, but left five runners on base over the two frames. In the top of the fifth, Ydwin Villegas and Shawn Payne both singled to put runners on first and second with none out. After Chuckie Jones flied out, Bednar lined a single into center to load the bases. Sanchez though recovered to strikeout Ragira and retire Ben Turner on a fly out to center to finish the inning.

In the sixth, Blair led off with a single before Trevor Brown walked, but Sanchez followed with three straight strikeouts - all looking - of Alberto Robles, Villegas and Payne to end the threat.

Mason McVay (2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO) was effective in long relief for San Jose before Stephen Johnson (2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO) pitched a scoreless bottom of the fifth. The Ports though struck for a run against Johnson in the sixth as Brugman tripled with one out and immediately came home when the next batter, Robertson, singled.

Stockton added another run in the bottom of the seventh facing Tyler Rogers (1 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) as Healy doubled with one out, advanced to third on Bruce Maxwell's single and scored when Wade Kirkland grounded a single into right. The Ports then scored their final two runs of the evening in the bottom of the eighth. Healy's one-out RBI single accounted for the first run before Jorge Bucardo (2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO) issued a bases loaded walk to Maxwell to make it 11-1.

Sanchez (4-0) picked-up the win for Stockton after tossing six innings with one run and eight hits allowed. He walked two and struck out eight. Three Ports relievers combined for three scoreless innings with just one hit allowed to finish the game.

Notes: Stockton out-hit the Giants 19-9 … Blair is batting .451 (23-for-51) over his last 13 games … The Ports scored 21 runs on 35 hits during their two wins in the series … San Jose held Stockton to a total of two runs on eight hits in the other two games (both Giants wins) … Reddick finished 4-for-4 with a single, a double, a home run, three runs scored and three RBI's … San Jose fell to 14-11 in the second half - four games behind the Ports (18-7) for the top spot in the North Division.

On Deck: After an off day on Tuesday, the Giants begin a seven-game homestand Wednesday evening with the first of three straight contests against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Pat Young (7-3, 5.47 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Rancho Cucamonga is expected to counter with Fabio Martinez (4-5, 4.88 ERA). It's Jimmy Buffett Tribute Night at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.