Extra-Base Hits Fuel 10-2 Giants Victory

SAN JOSE, CA - The Giants pounded out eight extra-base hits, including three home runs, in a convincing 10-2 victory over the Visalia Rawhide on Saturday evening at Municipal Stadium. San Jose (43-51 overall, 9-15 second half) has scored 18 runs over the last two games en route to posting back-to-back wins against Visalia to open the series.
Jalen Miller (3-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) doubled and homered as part of a three-hit night to lead the Giants offensively on Saturday. Wander Franco (1-for-5, HR, RBI) and Kelvin Beltre (1-for-4, HR, RBI) also went deep while Dillon Dobson (2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI) added a pair of doubles and two RBI's. Bryce Johnson (1-for-1, RBI, SB) reached base in all four of his plate appearances from the leadoff spot in the lineup and scored three runs.
San Jose starter Domenic Mazza (2-1) earned the win after limiting the Rawhide to two runs (one earned) over 5 2/3 innings. Mazza scattered 10 hits, walked one and struck out two during his 79-pitch outing.
The Giants never trailed in the contest scoring twice in the bottom of the first to take an early 2-0 lead. Johnson led off the frame by drawing a walk before stealing second base. A two-out infield single from Heath Quinn then put runners on the corners. Dobson was up next and he blasted a double off the fence in deep center to score both Johnson and Quinn for a 2-0 advantage.
San Jose added to their lead with another run in the bottom of the third to make it 3-0. Johnson again started a rally with a walk before Miller grounded a single into right to put runners on first and third. Johnson then scored when Franco bounced into a 6-4-3 double play.
Meanwhile, Mazza began his night with four scoreless innings. The left-hander worked through a bases loaded, one-out jam in the top of the first and a leadoff double in the fourth. The Rawhide finally broke through against Mazza in the top of the fifth. Consecutive two-out singles from Renae Martinez and Pavin Smith put two runners on for Visalia. Drew Ellis then reached safely on a fielding error committed by Franco at third. The miscue allowed Martinez to score trimming the Giants lead to 3-1.
San Jose though immediately answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth on back-to-back homers. With one out, Johnson drew his third walk of the game before Miller launched a two-run home run to left for a 5-1 advantage. The home run was Miller's 12th of the season. Franco then stepped to the plate and also went deep - a towering blast down the left field line - to make it 6-1.
Visalia pushed across a run in the top of the sixth, but would get no closer in the game. A walk to Jason Morozowski started the inning before Mark Karaviotis singled. Adam Walton followed by grounding into a double play with Morozowski advancing to third. Luis Alejandro Basabe then delivered a two-out RBI single to bring the Rawhide to within 6-2. The RBI hit knocked Mazza out of the game, but Rodolfo Martinez entered from the bullpen and promptly retired Marcus Wilson to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Giants produced their second straight three-run inning. Beltre hammered the first pitch of the inning over the fence in deep left center - his second home run of the season - extending the lead to 7-2. After Jacob Heyward walked, Matt Winn laced an RBI triple into the left center field gap. Johnson then blooped an RBI single down the right field line for a 9-2 cushion.
San Jose scored their 10th and final run of the evening in the bottom of the seventh as Dobson led off with his second double of the game before coming home on a Heyward two-out double.
Martinez (1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) and Ryan Walker (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) combined to throw 3 1/3 hitless innings of relief to finish the game for the Giants.
Visalia starter Austin Mason (2-5) suffered the loss after yielding three runs (all earned) on three hits over three innings. Mason, who was making his first start of the season after 27 relief appearances, walked three and struck out four.
Notes
* The 10 runs scored for the Giants was their highest output in a game during the second half.
* San Jose has won four out of their last six games overall.
* The Giants out-hit the Rawhide 11-10.
* The home runs from Miller and Franco were the first back-to-back homers of the season for San Jose. Both players have also now homered in consecutive games.
* In two starts with the Giants this season, Mazza has pitched 11 2/3 innings and allowed only one earned run.
* San Jose has won back-to-back games for the first time since taking three straight from June 28-30.
* The Giants have hit six home runs in the first two games of the series (20 home runs in July - second in the league).
On Deck
The Giants and Rawhide continue their series on Sunday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 5:00 PM. Joey Marciano (0-1, 14.54 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Emilio Vargas (7-4, 1.85 ERA). The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a San Francisco Giants Willie Mays bobblehead. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.