Rawhide Rout Giants To Take Series

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VISALIA, CA - The San Jose Giants allowed a season-high 18 hits in a 12-4 loss to the Visalia Rawhide on Thursday evening at Recreation Park. With the defeat, San Jose dropped two out of three games to the Rawhide and are still without a series win in Visalia since the 2013 season. The Giants (28-32) remain one game out of first place in the second half North Division standings with 10 to play in the regular season.
Jonah Arenado (2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI) doubled twice to lead San Jose offensively in the loss. Cristian Paulino (2-for-5) also produced two hits while Dillon Dobson (1-for-3, 2 RBI) drove home a pair of runs.
The Rawhide jumped out early on Thursday with a four-run bottom of the second inning against Giants starter Domenic Mazza. Grant Heyman and Tyler Baker were each hit by a pitch to start the inning before Fernery Ozuna delivered an RBI single for a 1-0 Visalia lead. Henry Castillo then stepped to the plate and blasted a three-run home run to left to make it 4-0.
The Rawhide then extended their lead with single runs in the third and fourth innings. With one out in the bottom of the third, Heyman doubled before a Baker RBI single pushed the lead to 5-0. An inning later, three singles loaded the bases for Visalia before a Jason Morozowski sacrifice fly made it 6-0.
San Jose was held to just one hit over the first five innings before breaking through in the top of the sixth. Ryan Howard reached on an error to leadoff the frame before a Bryan Reynolds single put runners on first and second. Arenado then doubled into the right field corner to bring home Howard with the first Giants run of the night. Dobson followed with a single up the middle plating Reynolds and Arenado to bring San Jose within 6-3. Heath Quinn was up next and he singled to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but Colin Poche entered from the bullpen and promptly registered three straight strikeouts of Matt Pare, Ronnie Jebavy and Jalen Miller to end the inning.
The Giants would get no closer in the game as Visalia immediately got one run back in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Austin Byler singled before a Morozowski RBI double stretched the Rawhide lead to 7-3 and knocked Mazza out of the game.
Down by four runs, San Jose threatened in the top of the eighth as Arenado led off with a double, but the next three batters were retired. Visalia then erupted for five runs on six hits in the bottom of the eighth to blow the game open. Singles from Ben DeLuzio and Mark Karaviotis put runners on the corners with one out before a successful double steal plated the first run of the inning. Morozowski followed with an RBI single before Heyman belted a two-run home run to left center for an 11-3 margin. Then with two outs, Ozuna doubled before a Castillo RBI single extended the lead to 12-3. All nine Rawhide hitters came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth.
The Giants scored once in the top of the ninth as Miller was hit by a pitch with one out, advanced to third on a Paulino single and scored on a Howard sacrifice fly.
Visalia starter Jon Duplantier (6-2) earned the win after tossing five scoreless innings with just one hit allowed. Duplantier walked three and struck out nine.
Mazza (0-1) was saddled with the loss in his California League debut after surrendering a career-high tying 12 hits and seven runs (all earned) in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one, hit three batters and struck out one.
Notes
* The Giants lost for the eighth time in their last 12 games overall.
* Visalia out-hit San Jose 18-7.
* The Rawhide were 8-for-13 (.615 AVG) with runners in scoring position compared to 2-for-14 (.143 AVG) for the Giants.
* With two doubles on Thursday, Arenado increased his season total to 34 - tied for the league lead.
* San Jose hitters struck out 41 times during the three-game series.
* Duplantier lowered his ERA to 1.69 in 10 starts with Visalia this season.
* The Giants finished the season with a 10-18 record against the Rawhide.
* San Jose last won a series at Recreation Park during the opening weekend of the 2013 season (17-42 record in Visalia since).
* Mazza was 7-9 with a 3.01 ERA in 19 starts for Augusta (A) this season prior to receiving a promotion to the Giants this week. In a corresponding roster move on Thursday, pitcher Conner Menez was placed on the disabled list.
* Thursday's game had an 18-minute delay in the top of the ninth with three light standards went out at Recreation Park.
* The Giants (28-32) are one game behind Modesto (29-31), Stockton (29-31) and Visalia (29-31) for the top spot in the second half North Division standings.
On Deck
The Giants return home on Friday night to open a three-game series against the Stockton Ports. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Mark Reyes (4-13, 6.11 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Brandon Bailey (1-0, 4.62 ERA). It's San Jose Barracuda Night at the ballpark and a spectacular fireworks show will follow the game. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.