Late Grand Slam Dooms Giants In 6-3 Loss
SAN JOSE - Stockton's Max Muncy hit a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the eighth inning to propel the Ports to a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Giants on Sunday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. Muncy's blast came with two outs and Stockton trailing by a run as the Ports won three out of four games in the series. The loss drops San Jose's record to 34-22.
Devin Harris (2-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) doubled and hit his 12th home run of the year to lead the Giants offensively in defeat.
Ty Blach started on the mound for San Jose and retired the first 14 batters of his outing. Blach carried a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning until Stockton rallied.
With the Giants ahead by a run, B.A. Vollmuth started the top of the eighth with a single off of Blach. Phil Pohl followed with a double down the left field line to put runners at second and third before a walk to Myrio Richard loaded the bases. Jacob Dunnington was then summoned from the bullpen and he promptly struck out Bobby Crocker before inducing Addison Russell to pop out to second. However, Muncy was up next and the Ports slugger crushed the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in right center field for a grand slam. The home run was Muncy's team-leading 10th of the season as Stockton took their first lead of the game at 5-2.
Both teams then scored single runs in the ninth inning as Rashun Dixon connected for a solo homer in the top of the frame off of Stephen Harrold to make it 6-2. In the bottom of the inning, Harris led off with a double and scored two batters later on Eliezer Zambrano's sacrifice fly. With two outs, Myles Schroder drew a walk, but Chris Lofton then struck out to end the game and leave the potential tying run in the on-deck circle.
Ports starting pitcher Drew Granier (6-3), who entered the game with the lowest ERA in the California League (2.49), picked-up the win after tossing seven innings with two runs (both earned) and four hits allowed. Granier walked four and struck out three during his 100-pitch performance.
Blach (6-2) suffered the loss for the Giants after he was charged with four runs (all earned) on five hits in seven-plus innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked one.
San Jose took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Mac Williamson doubled with one out before Harris belted a two-out, two-run home to left. The Giants though wouldn't score again in the contest until the ninth.
Meanwhile, Stockton didn't manage their first baserunner of the afternoon until the top of the fifth. Blach began his start with four perfect innings and then retired the first two batters of the fifth. Dixon broke up the perfect game with a two-out double in the top of the fifth, but Blach quickly set down the next hitter to end the inning. In the sixth, however, back-to-back two-out doubles from Crocker and Russell produced a run for the Ports to cut the lead in half at 2-1. Blach then breezed through a 1-2-3 top of the seventh before Stockton's eighth-inning rally.
Notes: San Jose finished their seven-game homestand with a 2-5 record … The Giants have lost a season-high tying three games in a row … The grand slam was the first allowed by a San Jose pitcher this season … The Ports out-hit the Giants by a 7-5 margin … Harris was the only San Jose player to finish with more than one hit … Skyler Stromsmoe, who started at second base on Sunday, was added to the Giants roster before the game from the Richmond (AA) disabled list … Infielder Ydwin Villegas has been placed on the disabled list … San Jose has 14 games remaining in the first half … The Giants entered Sunday with a two-game lead over the Visalia Rawhide (32-23) in the first half North Division race.
On Deck: The Giants open a three-game series in Modesto on Monday evening. First pitch against the Nuts at John Thurman Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Jason Forjet (1-0, 3.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Ben Alsup (3-5, 4.68 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:35 PM.