VISALIA, CA - The San Jose Giants were held to a season-low two hits on Tuesday night in a 4-1 loss to the Visalia Rawhide at Recreation Park. Drew Ellis smacked a bases-clearing three-run double in the bottom of the sixth to give the Visalia the lead as the Rawhide
VISALIA, CA - The San Jose Giants were held to a season-low two hits on Tuesday night in a 4-1 loss to the Visalia Rawhide at Recreation Park. Drew Ellis smacked a bases-clearing three-run double in the bottom of the sixth to give the Visalia the lead as the Rawhide evened the series at a game apiece. The defeat snapped San Jose's (8-5) win streak at four games.
Matt Winn (1-for-4) and Sandro Fabian (1-for-4) produced the Giants' only hits of the contest with singles in the seventh and ninth innings respectively. San Jose drew nine walks in the game, but went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base.
Conner Menez fired five scoreless innings to begin the night for the Giants surrendering just one hit. Menez, who rejoined San Jose after making a spot-start for Sacramento (AAA) last week, walked three and struck out eight during his 83-pitch outing.
The Giants' only run of the evening came in the top of the fourth. Visalia starting pitcher Emilio Vargas issued back-to-back walks to Jalen Miller and Jacob Heyward to start the frame before a one-out walk to Heath Quinn loaded the bases. Following a Fabian pop out, Frandy De La Rosa drew a full-count walk to force home Miller for a 1-0 San Jose lead. Vargas though prevented further damage when he struck out the next hitter, Matt Winn, to end the inning.
Meanwhile, Menez pitched around a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, a pair of walks in the third and another walk in the fifth to keep the Rawhide off the scoreboard. The left-hander retired 14 out of the 19 batters he faced.
With the score still at 1-0, Nolan Riggs relieved Menez to begin the bottom of the sixth. After Marcus Wilson flied out, Pavin Smith hit a slow grounder to third that was misplayed by De La Rosa for an error. Ramon Hernandez then ripped a double down the left field line to move Smith to third before Daulton Varsho walked to load the bases. Ellis was up next and he laced the first pitch of his at-bat into the right field corner for a double. The hit scored all three runners giving Visalia their first lead of the series at 3-1.
The Giants threatened in the top of the seventh as De La Rosa walked with one out before Winn singled sharply up the middle for San Jose's first hit of the game. Bryce Johnson then walked with two outs to advance the potential tying run into scoring position, but Jalen Miller fouled out to end the inning.
The Rawhide then added to their lead with a single tally in the bottom of the seventh. Facing reliever Carlos Diaz, Raymel Flores led off with a double before Camden Duzenack walked. Wilson then grounded into a fielder's choice with Duzenack forced out at second. Smith was up next and he also grounded into a fielder's choice with Wilson forced out at second, however Flores scored on the play to make it 4-1.
Still down 4-1, the Giants brought the potential tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth before ultimately falling short. Fabian led off with a single and Brandon Van Horn walked with two outs, but Johnson then grounded out to first to end the game.
Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Randall Delgado was credited with the win after tossing two perfect innings of relief over the fifth and sixth frames. Delgado was making the fourth appearance of his rehab assignment with Visalia. Austin Mason pitched the ninth inning for his first save of the year.
Riggs (0-1) suffered the loss after yielding three runs (two earned) on two hits over one inning of relief.
Notes
* San Jose's previous season-low for hits was three (April 12 vs. Stockton - home opener).
* Menez has pitched 10 scoreless innings in his two starts with the Giants this season. He's allowed only four hits and struck out 15.
* Vargas pitched four hitless innings in his start for the Rawhide. The right-hander walked six and struck out six.
* The teams combined to go 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position (San Jose 0-for-7, Visalia 1-for-11).
* The Rawhide out-hit the Giants 5-2.
* Riggs had thrown 7 1/3 scoreless innings this season entering Tuesday.
On Deck
The Giants and Rawhide conclude their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon with first pitch at Recreation Park scheduled for 1:00 PM. Mac Marshall (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Riley Smith (0-0, 3.38 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 12:40 PM.
