STOCKTON, CA - The San Jose Giants were unable to hold an early four-run lead on Thursday evening as the Stockton Ports rallied for an 8-5 victory at Banner Island Ballpark. Sandber Pimentel's sixth-inning two-run home run put Stockton in front while the Giants managed only one run after the
STOCKTON, CA - The San Jose Giants were unable to hold an early four-run lead on Thursday evening as the Stockton Ports rallied for an 8-5 victory at Banner Island Ballpark. Sandber Pimentel's sixth-inning two-run home run put Stockton in front while the Giants managed only one run after the top of the first in suffering the loss. With the defeat, San Jose (41-51 overall, 7-15 second half) settles for a split of the four-game series against the Ports.
Gio Brusa (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) smacked a three-run home run while Wander Franco (3-for-5, 2B, RBI) knocked out three hits to lead the Giants offensively in the loss.
San Jose jumped out early with four runs in the top of the first inning against Stockton starter Zack Erwin. Johneshwy Fargas started the game with a single before stealing second. Jalen Miller followed with a single to left advancing Fargas to third. Miller though was caught in a rundown between first and second on the play with Fargas eventually tagged out between third and home for the first out of the inning. Franco though followed with a ringing double to deep right center to score Miller with the first run of the game. After Heath Quinn drew a walk, Brusa stepped to the plate and launched an opposite field three-run homer to right. The home run, Brusa's 14th of the season, gave the Giants a 4-0 lead.
DJ Myers started on the mound for San Jose and began his night with two scoreless innings before running into trouble in the third as the Ports produced three straight RBI doubles. An infield single with one out from Brallan Perez started the rally before Luis Barrera laced an RBI double into the right center field gap. Nate Mondou was up next and he grounded a double down the left field line plating Barrera with the second Stockton run. Luke Persico then hammered a double to deep center as Mondou scored to bring the Ports to within 4-3.
The Giants scored their final run of the contest in the top of the fifth. Back-to-back one-out singles from Franco and Quinn put runners on first and second. Then with two down, Sandro Fabian lined a single into left to score Franco for a 5-3 San Jose advantage.
Myers recovered to keep the Ports off the scoreboard in the fourth and fifth innings, but Stockton would rally in the sixth. Persico led off with a double to deep right center before Will Toffey struck out. Chase Calabuig was up next and he lined an RBI single into center to again bring Stockton back to within a run. The hit knocked Myers out of the game as Peter Lannoo was summoned from the bullpen, but the Giants reliever would promptly allow a towering two-run home run to Pimentel as the Ports took a 6-5 lead.
Trailing for the first time in the game, San Jose was set down in order in the top of the seventh. Kelvin Beltre singled with two outs in the eighth, but was stranded at first when Dillon Dobson struck out to end the inning. Stockton then extended their lead to 8-5 when Santiago Chávez drilled a two-out, two-run homer to left off of Lannoo in the bottom of the eighth.
Down by three runs, the Giants threatened in the top of the ninth, but saw their comeback effort fall short. Bryce Johnson singled with one out before a Franco two-out single put runners on first and second. Quinn was up next as the potential tying run, however he grounded out to third ending the game.
Will Gilbert (4-2) was credited with the win after tossing two perfect innings of relief. Gilbert, who entered the game to begin the top of the sixth, struck out four of the six batters he faced. Trey Cochran-Gill pitched the top of the ninth to record his first save of the year. Gilbert, Andrew Tomasovich and Cochran-Gill combined for four scoreless innings of relief to finish the game.
Lannoo (1-4) was charged with three runs (all earned) over 2 2/3 innings out of the bullpen to take the loss.
Notes
* The Giants have still not won a series since taking two of three games at Modesto from June 8-10.
* Brusa's 14 home runs lead San Jose and rank fourth in the California League. He's also sixth in the league with 51 RBI's.
* The Ports out-hit the Giants 12-11.
* Pimentel has hit seven home runs in his last seven games against San Jose. He has nine home runs overall this season.
* Myers, who was making his second start of the year, pitched 5 1/3 innings with eight hits and five runs (all earned) allowed. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.
* The Giants fell to 10-12 against Stockton this season.
* Pitcher Raffi Vizcaino was placed on the disabled list before the game on Thursday.
On Deck
The Giants return to Municipal Stadium on Friday evening to begin a four-game series against the Visalia Rawhide. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Logan Webb (1-2, 1.80 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Matt Peacock (3-0, 2.12 ERA). It's a fireworks night at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.
