Late Run Lifts Giants To Third Straight Win

SAN JOSE, CA -Jacob Heyward hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the San Jose Giants to a 6-5 victory over the Visalia Rawhide on Sunday evening at Municipal Stadium. Relievers Franklin Van Gurp, Connor Overton and Frank Rubio combined to throw 5 1/3 scoreless innings to finish the game as the Giants (44-51 overall, 10-15 second half) won their third straight against Visalia to open the series.
Kelvin Beltre (4-for-4, 2B) had four hits as part of a perfect night at the plate while Heyward (1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI) drove in the game-tying run in the bottom of the fifth before his clutch RBI double in the eighth to lead the San Jose offensive attack. Wander Franco (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Gio Brusa (2-for-4) added two hits apiece.
The game began as a high-scoring back-and-forth contest. Visalia's Renae Martinez delivered a two-out RBI double in the top of the first off of Giants starter Joey Marciano to give the Rawhide an early 1-0 lead. San Jose though immediately tied the game in the bottom of the frame as Johneshwy Fargas drew a leadoff walk, advanced all the way to third on a wild pick-off throw from pitcher Emilio Vargas and scored when Jalen Miller singled sharply into right.
Visalia went right back in front in the top of the second when Jason Morozowski clubbed a leadoff home run to deep left center. The Giants, however, answered with three runs of their own in the home half of the inning. Back-to-back singles from Beltre and Brusa started the inning before a walk to Heyward loaded the bases with none out. Beltre then scored the tying run when the next batter, Tanner Murphy, grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. After Fargas and Miller were both hit by a pitch to again the load the bases, Franco blooped a two-run single into shallow left center giving San Jose a 4-2 lead.
The Rawhide though bounced back with three runs on a pair of homers over the next two innings to take back the lead. Stephen Smith belted a two-run home run to left in the top of the third to tie the game 4-4. An inning later, Dominic Mirogilo crushed a solo homer to left off Marciano for a 5-4 Visalia advantage.
The Giants left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, but would scratch across a run in the fifth to again tie the score. Beltre led off with a double down the left field line before Brusa singled to put runners on the corners. Heyward then hit a sacrifice fly to right as Beltre came home to make it 5-5.
Meanwhile, Van Gurp (2 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO) did not allow a hit over his long relief outing for San Jose. The right-hander relieved Marciano with two outs in the top of the fourth and struck out the only batter he faced in the frame to retire the side. Van Gurp then fanned three hitters in the fifth before two more punchouts in the top of the sixth.
With the game tied, Overton (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) entered to begin the top of the seventh and held the Rawhide off the board over the next two innings. Overton breezed through a 1-2-3 seventh inning. In the eighth, Martinez doubled with one out, but was stranded when Drew Ellis grounded out and Mirogilo popped out.
The Giants then took the lead for good with a single run in the bottom of the eighth. Brusa led off with a grounder to third that was misplayed by Ellis for a two-base error. Heyward followed by lining a 2-1 pitch from Visalia reliever Junior Garcia into the left center field gap for a double. The hit easily scored Brusa from second giving San Jose a 6-5 lead.
Rubio (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO) was then summoned to begin the top of the ninth and the Giants closer would strand the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base to slam the door. Morozowski led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second when the next batter, Ramon Hernandez, flied out to deep center. Adam Walton then walked to put the go-ahead run on base. Rubio though came back to retire Luis Alejandro Basabe on a line out to center before Marcus Wilson grounded out to third to end the game.
Overton (2-0) was credited with the win for San Jose while Rubio collected his sixth save.
Garcia (2-3) suffered the loss.
Notes
* The Giants clinched their first series win since taking two of three games at Modesto from June 8-10.
* San Jose has won their first home series since May 28-31 (vs. Visalia).
* The Giants out-hit the Rawhide 10-6. San Jose was 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position compared to 0-for-7 for Visalia.
* Beltre raised his season batting average from .200 to .246 with his four-hit game on Sunday.
* Miller (1-for-4, RBI) extended his hitting streak to eight games.
* Franco is 10-for-23 (.435) over his last five games.
* Marciano pitched 3 2/3 innings with five runs (all earned) and four hits allowed. He walked two and struck out two. Marciano has surrendered six home runs in his first two starts with the Giants (eight innings).
* Vargas entered Sunday leading the California League in wins, ERA and strikeouts. He was charged with four runs (all earned) over four innings of work (6 H, 4 BB, 3 SO).
* San Jose moved into a second-place tie with Visalia in the second half North Division standings.
* The Giants played their league-leading 32nd one-run game of the season (15-17 record).
On Deck
The Giants will look to sweep the four-game set against Visalia when the teams conclude their series on Monday afternoon. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 12:30 PM. Carlos Sano (1-1, 3.89 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while the Rawhide are expected to counter with Connor Grey (6-6, 5.65 ERA). For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.