Giants Fall 11-5, Ports Sweep Series

SAN JOSE, CA - Stockton's Collin Theroux hit two home runs, including a grand slam during a six-run fifth inning, as the Ports completed a three-game sweep of the Giants with an 11-5 victory on Thursday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. The loss for San Jose (57-79) was their seventh in the last eight games overall.
Jacob Heyward (2-for-5, HR, RBI) and Sandro Fabian (1-for-3, HR, RBI) homered for the Giants in defeat. Heath Quinn (2-for-4, 2B) also produced a multi-hit game while Gio Brusa (1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI) drove home a pair of runs.
The contest initially went back-and-forth with Stockton taking an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third against San Jose starter Mac Marshall. Brallan Perez walked with one out to start the rally before coming home on a Luke Persico two-out double to deep left center.
The Giants though immediately tied the game in the bottom of the third when Heyward launched a one-out solo homer to left. The home run was Heyward's 12th of the season. Quinn followed with a double into the right center gap before Brusa stepped to the plate with two outs and hammered an RBI double off the left center wall to give San Jose a 2-1 lead.
Theroux's first homer of the day - a solo shot in the top of the fourth - then tied the score 2-2. The Giants, however, went right back in front in the bottom of the inning when Fabian led off with a home run down the left field line - his 10th round-tripper of the year.
With San Jose ahead by a 3-2 margin, Marshall returned to the mound for the top of the fifth, but quickly ran into trouble. Chase Calabuig was hit by a pitch to start the inning before Perez singled to put runners on first and second. Trace Loehr then grounded into a fielder's choice with Perez forced out at second. Persico was up next and he lined a single into left plating Calabuig to tie the game 3-3. Viosergy Rosa then belted a double off the center field wall to score Loehr for a 4-3 Stockton lead. The go-ahead hit knocked Marshall out of the game as Peter Lannoo entered from the bullpen and promptly struck out Edwin Diaz for the second out. An intentional walk to Sandber Pimentel then loaded the bases before Theroux crushed a 3-1 pitch from Lannoo over the wall in left center for a grand slam. The home run was Theroux's second of the game and 12th of the season as the Ports pushed their lead to 8-3.
Stockton added three more runs in the top of the eighth without the benefit of a hit. Sam Coonrod quickly retired the first two batters of the inning before Perez was hit by a pitch. Loehr then reached safely on a fielding error committed by Brusa at first before Persico walked to load the bases. Rosa was up next and he lofted a fly ball to deep left that was dropped by Heyward on the warning track for an error. The miscue allowed all three runners to score to make it 11-3.
Meanwhile, the Giants managed only two singles from the fifth through the eighth innings before scratching across two late runs in the bottom of the ninth. Consecutive singles from Chris Corbett and Heyward started the inning before a walk to Quinn loaded the bases. Wander Franco and Brusa then produced back-to-back sacrifice flies to trim the deficit to 11-5, but San Jose would get no closer.
Ports starter Wyatt Marks (2-0) earned the win after tossing five innings with three runs (all earned) allowed. Marks surrendered six hits, walked three and struck out seven.
Marshall (0-6) was charged with six runs (all earned) over 4 1/3 innings to take the loss. The left-hander gave up seven hits, walked two and matched a season-high with seven strikeouts.
Notes
* The Giants were swept in a series at home for the fourth time this season (June 5-7 vs. Stockton, July 4-8 vs. Rancho Cucamonga, August 3-5 vs. Lake Elsinore).
* San Jose is 12-27 in their last 39 home games dating back to June 2.
* Heyward has hit three home runs over his last two games. He is 14-for-30 (.467 AVG) in his last eight games overall.
* Both teams finished with nine hits.
* Thursday was the 28th and final meeting of the season between the Giants and Ports. Stockton won the season series 17-11.
* San Jose gave up their fourth grand slam of the season (second allowed by Lannoo).
* With two RBI's on Thursday, Brusa increased his season total to 70 - eighth in the California League.
On Deck
The Giants conclude the 2018 season with a four-game series against the Modesto Nuts at Municipal Stadium. Friday's series opener is a 7:00 PM first pitch. DJ Myers (6-3, 4.86 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Reggie McClain (5-11, 5.24 ERA). Friday is the final fireworks night of the season while it's also AugtoberFest at the ballpark. The first 1,000 fans will receive an exclusive San Jose Giants AugtoberFest Keychain Bottle Opener. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.