Giants Win Home Opener In Walk-Off Fashion
SAN JOSE - Ydwin Villegas' one-out double in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Chris Lofton from second base with the winning run to lift the San Jose Giants to a 3-2 victory over the Visalia Rawhide on Thursday evening. San Jose claimed their home opener in walk-off fashion in front of a crowd of 4,425 fans at Municipal Stadium.
Villegas' (3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI) game-winning double capped a three-hit night to lead the Giants offensively. In addition to scoring the winning run, Lofton (3-for-3) also produced three hits as part of a perfect evening at the plate.
With the game tied 2-2, Lofton began the bottom of the ninth with a grounder through the hole on the right side for a single. Eliezer Zambrano then grounded out to shortstop on a diving stop made by Sean Jamieson as Lofton moved to second. Villegas was up next and he lined an 0-2 pitch from Rawhide reliever Diogenes Rosario into the left center field gap for a double as Lofton easily scored the winning run.
Hunter Strickland (1-0) was credited with the win for San Jose after striking out the side in a scoreless top of the ninth. Strickland worked around a two-out single and a passed ball to keep the game tied.
Edwin Escobar started for the Giants and tossed the first five innings with two runs (both earned) and four hits allowed. Escobar retired the first nine batters that he faced, including four via the strikeout. He fanned five and didn't walk a batter during his stint on the mound.
San Jose took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Devin Harris led off with a single before he was forced out on Angel Villalona's grounder back to the mound. Lofton followed with a bunt single before Zambrano stepped to the plate and lined a single to left plating Villalona with the first run of the night.
Visalia answered with two runs in the top of the fourth against Escobar to take their first lead of the contest. Evan Marzilli's infield single started the frame before Gerson Montilla blooped a one-out single into shallow right. Yazy Arbelo was up next and he doubled down the left field line to bring home Marzilli with the tying run. Raywilly Gomez then gave the Rawhide a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly to deep left.
Escobar finished his night with a scoreless top of the fifth before the Giants tied the game with a single tally in the bottom of the inning. Villegas began the rally with a double down the right field line. After Shawn Payne's infield single off the pitcher, a passed ball moved Villegas to third. Bobby Haney then delivered a sacrifice fly as Villegas scored to make it 2-2.
Jorge Bucardo (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO), Josh Osich (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) and Strickland combined for four scoreless innings of relief for San Jose to keep the game tied. Bucardo struck out two batters in both the sixth and seventh innings before Osich tossed a 1-2-3 top of the eighth.
Visalia starter Keith Hessler scattered 10 hits with just two runs (one earned) allowed in seven innings. He struck out three and walked none.
Notes: San Jose out-hit Visalia by a 12-6 margin … Thursday was the opener of a four-game series and the first of seven for the Giants on their opening homestand … San Jose pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts and no walks … There was only one walk combined between the two teams … Ryan Cavan (0-for-4) saw his hitting streak end at seven games … Lofton was 3-for-23 this season before Thursday's three-hit game … Shortstop Kelby Tomlinson and pitcher Cody Hall were placed on the disabled list before the game … Pitcher Austin Fleet and catcher Myles Schroder were added to the active roster … The Giants improved their record to 6-2.
On Deck: The Giants and Rawhide continue their four-game series on Friday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Kyle Crick (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Kyle Winkler (0-1, 9.64 ERA). It's a KRTY Family Friday at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com. The game will also be televised live on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104.