Extra-Base Hits Fuel 10-3 Giants Victory

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SAN JOSE, CA - The San Jose Giants clubbed nine extra-base hits, including four home runs, in a 10-3 series-opening victory over the Lancaster JetHawks on Monday evening at Municipal Stadium. Jonah Arenado, Gio Brusa, John Polonius and Bryan Reynolds each went deep as the Giants matched their season-high for home runs in a game. The win also moved San Jose (25-26) back into a first-place tie with Modesto in the second half North Division race.
Arenado (3-for-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) and Polonius (3-for-4, 2 2B, HR, RBI) had three hits apiece to lead the Giants offensive attack on Monday. Reynolds (2-for-3, HR, RBI) also contributed a multi-hit game at the plate while Jalen Miller (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) drove home a pair of runs.
San Jose pitchers Grant Watson, Heath Slatton, Rodolfo Martinez and Michael Cederoth combined for 13 strikeouts and just one walk on the mound. Watson fanned a season-high eight batters over five innings to begin the contest. The left-hander allowed two runs (both earned) on seven hits with one walk during his outing. Slatton (3-3) was credited with the win after tossing the sixth and seventh innings out of the bullpen with one run allowed and three strikeouts before Martinez and Cederoth fired scoreless eighth and ninth innings respectively to seal the victory.
The Giants jumped out early as a pair of solo home runs gave San Jose a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, Arenado hit a towering homer down the left field line for the first run of the night. An inning later, Brusa crushed a home run to right to make it 2-0. The home runs were Arenado's 11th of the year and Brusa's 12th.
Meanwhile, Watson had retired seven straight JetHawks hitters, including five via the strikeout, until Scott Burcham singled with two outs in the top of the third. Garrett Hampson then singled to center advancing Burcham to third. Hampson advanced to second on the throw and then both runners would score when the next batter, Wes Rogers, grounded a single up the middle. The two-RBI hit tied the game 2-2.
Watson bounced back with consecutive scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth stranding two runners on base in each frame before Polonius gave San Jose back the lead with a solo home run to left in the bottom of fifth. The home run, Polonius' second of the season, made the score 3-2 Giants.
Lancaster though answered with a solo home run of their own as Dillon Thomas took Slatton deep in the top of the sixth bringing the JetHawks even at 3-3. However in the bottom of the inning, Reynolds led off with a soaring fly ball over the fence in right center for San Jose's fourth solo home run of the night. The homer was Reynolds' seventh this year and it gave the Giants a 4-3 lead.
Slatton (2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO) then worked around a two-out double in the top of the seventh to keep San Jose in front before the Giants exploded for four runs in the bottom of the frame. Back-to-back one-out doubles from Polonius and Miller produced the first run of the inning for San Jose. Steven Duggar then reached on an infield single advancing Miller to third before Reynolds walked loading the bases. Arenado was up next and he singled sharply into left plating Miller for a 6-3 cushion. Dillon Dobson then brought home another run with an RBI groundout before a wild pitch scored Reynolds to make it 8-3. The Giants sent all nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.
After Martinez (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) breezed through a 1-2-3 top of the eighth, San Jose added two more runs in the home half of the inning. With one out, Polonius doubled before taking third on a wild pitch. Miller then delivered an RBI groundout extending the lead to 9-3. Duggar followed by drawing a walk, Reynolds then singled before Arenado smacked an RBI double to deep left center for a 10-3 advantage.
Cederoth (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) then worked a perfect top of the ninth to close out the JetHawks.
Lancaster starter Trey Killian (10-8) suffered the loss after yielding seven runs (all earned) on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked one, struck out six and gave up all four Giants home runs.
Notes
* Monday was the opener of a seven-game homestand. San Jose improved to 9-1 in their last 10 home games.
* The Giants hit four home runs in a game for the fourth time this season. San Jose is fourth in the California League with 104 home runs this year.
* The Giants out-hit the JetHawks 12-9. San Jose finished the game with five doubles, four home runs and three singles.
* Watson was one strikeout off his career-high (nine strikeouts on April 29, 2016 with Augusta).
* Arenado is batting .417 (25-for-60) in 14 games against Lancaster this season.
* The Giants are 13-7 in their last 20 games overall.
* Slatton was charged with a blown save after allowing the game-tying home run in the top of the sixth. It was only the Giants' eighth blown save of the season (fewest in the Cal League) and just their second since July 1.
* Polonius had three extra base-hits on Monday after just four in his first 82 at-bats of the season (three doubles, one home run).
* San Jose scored 10+ runs in a game for the fourth time in their last ten contests.
* Killian has allowed a league-high 24 home runs this year.
* 19 games remain in the regular season.
On Deck
The Giants and JetHawks continue their four-game series on Tuesday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Garrett Williams (2-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Lancaster is expected to counter with Jesus Tinoco (8-4, 5.23 ERA). It's a Taste of Muni Tuesday at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.