STOCKTON, CA -Sandro Cabrera tossed 5 2/3 effective innings, Brandon Van Horn homered and the Giants bullpen held off several Stockton rallies late in a 2-1 victory over the Ports on Saturday evening at Banner Island Ballpark. With the win, San Jose (24-19) evened their series with Stockton at a
STOCKTON, CA -Sandro Cabrera tossed 5 2/3 effective innings, Brandon Van Horn homered and the Giants bullpen held off several Stockton rallies late in a 2-1 victory over the Ports on Saturday evening at Banner Island Ballpark. With the win, San Jose (24-19) evened their series with Stockton at a game apiece.
Cabrera (6-0) earned his league-leading sixth win of the season after limiting the Ports to one unearned run during his stint on the mound. Cabrera, who took a shutout into the sixth, allowed five hits, walked four and struck out five. Relievers Peter Lannoo (2 1/3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) and Patrick Ruotolo (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) then combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to seal the victory. The Ports left the potential tying run in scoring position in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
The Giants built a 2-0 lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the top of the fourth, Jalen Miller led off with a single before Wander Franco flied out. Jacob Heyward then ripped a double into the left field corner advancing Miller to third. Miller would score on the play when the throw back to the infield from left fielder Melvin Mercedes bounced into the San Jose dugout for an error.
Van Horn then smacked a solo home run to deep left center starting the top of the fifth to stretch the lead to 2-0. The home run was Van Horn's second of the season.
Meanwhile, Cabrera began his start with five shutout innings. The left-hander worked around a pair of walks in the bottom of the first before tossing a 1-2-3 second inning. In the third, Brallan Perez led off with a double, but Cabrera retired the next three hitters to keep the Ports off the board. After the Giants took the lead in the top of the fourth, Cabrera issued a leadoff walk to Skye Bolt in the bottom of the frame before Dairon Blanco singled with one out to put runners on first and second. Luke Persico though followed by grounding into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play on a diving stop made by Van Horn at shortstop. In the bottom of the fifth, Cabrera pitched through a one-out single.
With the score 2-0, Stockton rallied in the bottom of the sixth. Nate Mondou led off by reaching on an error before Bolt singled to put runners on first and second. Jonah Heim followed by grounding into a fielder's choice with Bolt forced out at second. Blanco then lined a single into right plating Mondou to bring the Ports to within 2-1. Heim advanced to third on the play, but Blanco was thrown out at second by right fielder Sandro Fabian attempting to advance. Persico was up next and he drew a walk to end Cabrera's night, but with the potential tying run at third, Lannoo was summoned and he induced Kevin Merrell to fly out to center ending the inning.
Stockton threatened in the bottom of the seventh against Lannoo putting runners on second and third with none out, but were unable to score. Perez led off with an infield single to third before Jason Goldstein blasted a double off the fence in deep right center. However with the potential tying run at third and go-ahead run at second, Lannoo registered consecutive swinging strikeouts of Mercedes and Mondou before Bolt grounded out to keep the score at 2-1.
In the bottom of the eighth, Lannoo quickly retired the first two batters before Persico doubled into the right field corner. Lannoo though came back to retire Merrell on a fly out to left as the Giants maintained their one-run advantage.
Ruotolo entered from the bullpen to begin the bottom of the ninth and allowed a one-out single to Goldstein as the Ports again put the tying run on base. Ruotolo though struck out Mercedes and set down Mondou on a foul pop out to the catcher to slam the door.
Stockton starter Parker Dunshee (2-2) took the loss after surrendering one run on two hits over the first four innings. Dunshee walked four and struck out four.
Notes
* The Giants pulled back to within two games of first-place Stockton (26-17) in the first half North Division race.
* Cabrera was making his second start of the season (ninth overall appearance). He lowered his ERA to 3.46 - eighth in the California League.
* The Ports out-hit San Jose 9-5. Stockton was 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
* Van Horn hit his first home run since April 8.
* Franco (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to seven games.
* Ruotolo is a perfect 6-for-6 in save opportunities this season.
* The Giants improved to 10-7 in one-run games.
* Pitcher DJ Myers was placed on the disabled list before the game Saturday. In a corresponding roster move, pitcher Orleny Quiroz joined San Jose from Extended Spring Training.
On Deck
The Giants and Ports conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch at Banner Island Ballpark scheduled for 2:09 PM. Conner Menez (2-2, 3.63 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Brian Howard (4-2, 3.08 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 1:50 PM.
