RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA -Heath Quinn hit a tiebreaking two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth before Aramis Garcia's two-run home run in the ninth extended the lead to propel the Giants to a 7-5 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Saturday evening at LoanMart Field. With the
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA -Heath Quinn hit a tiebreaking two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth before Aramis Garcia's two-run home run in the ninth extended the lead to propel the Giants to a 7-5 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Saturday evening at LoanMart Field. With the win, San Jose (39-54 overall, 9-14 second half) avoided the series sweep and snapped a four-game losing streak.
Garcia (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) drove home three runs to lead a 12-hit Giants offensive attack. Ronnie Jebavy (3-for-4, SB) also singled three times and scored three runs while Ryan Howard (2-for-4, 2B) added a pair of hits. San Jose went 6-for-13 in the contest with runners in scoring position.
David Owen (2-0) earned the win out of the bullpen after tossing 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Owen, who kept the game tied in the sixth and seventh innings before preserving a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth, struck out four during his stellar long relief appearance. Dylan Rheault allowed one run in the bottom of the ninth, but slammed the door on the Quakes to collect his 11th save.
With the score tied 5-5, the pivotal eighth-inning rally began with a leadoff walk to Jebavy. Matt Winn then struck out, but Jebavy stole second on the strike three pitch to move into scoring position. After Jalen Miller popped out, Quinn stepped to the plate and lined a single into right center field easily scoring Jebavy from second for a 6-5 San Jose lead.
Owen returned to the mound in the bottom of the eighth and surrendered a leadoff single to Zach McKinstry, but recovered to set down the next three Rancho Cucamonga hitters to maintain the one-run lead.
The Giants then scored two key insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Bryan Reynolds led off with a double off the fence in deep center field. Garcia was up next and he launched a fly ball over the fence in left center for a two-run homer. The home run, Garcia's team-leading 15th of the season, extended the San Jose advantage to 7-4.
With a three-run lead, Rheault (1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) was then summoned to begin the bottom of the ninth. Drew Jackson led off with a sharp grounder to third that deflected off of Jonah Arenado's glove for an error. Following a strikeout of Luke Raley, DJ Peters grounded a single into right advancing Jackson to third. Johan Mieses was up next as the potential tying run and he drove a fly ball to deep center that was caught by Jebavy in front of the warning track for the second out. Jackson scored on the sacrifice fly to bring the Quakes to within 7-5. Estevez then drew a walk to put the tying run on base, but Rheault induced the next hitter, McKinstry, to ground out to third ending the game.
Tony Gonsolin (3-5) was saddled with the loss out of the Rancho Cucamonga bullpen after surrendering the go-ahead tally in the top of the eighth.
The Giants jumped out early on Saturday scoring twice on a pair of two-out RBI hits in the top of the first against Quakes starter Yadier Álvarez. With one out, Howard drew a walk before advancing to second on a wild pick-off throw. Garcia then lined a two-out single into right plating Howard with the first run of the night. Garcia took second on the throw home and scored the second run of the frame when the next batter, Dillon Dobson, lined a single into center.
Conner Menez started on the mound for San Jose and yielded a run in the bottom of the first as Rancho Cucamonga cut the Giants lead in half. A one-out walk to Raley started the rally before a wild pitch advanced the runner to second. Peters then smacked a double into the left field corner bringing home Raley to make the score 2-1. Menez though retired the next two batters to end the inning before tossing scoreless second and third frames to keep San Jose ahead.
Both teams then scored a single run in the fourth. With two outs in the top of the inning, Jebavy singled before he was balked to second. Winn then grounded a single through the hole on the right side plating Jebavy for a 3-1 cushion. However in the bottom of the frame, Ibandel Isabel belted a two-out solo home run down the right field line for the Quakes. The round-tripper, Isabel's 19th of the season, brought Rancho Cucamonga to within 3-2.
The Quakes then took their first lead of the night with a two-run bottom of the fifth against Menez. Raley singled with one out before Peters walked. Mieses was up next and he belted a double into deep left center field to score both Raley and Peters for a 4-3 Rancho Cucamonga advantage. Menez was then pulled from the game after issuing a two-out walk, but Owen entered from the bullpen and quickly recorded the third out.
San Jose immediately tied the game in the top of the sixth as Jebavy singled with one out before Winn walked. Jalen Miller followed with a double down the left field line to score Jebavy. Steven Duggar then drew a walk to load the bases, but Gonsolin came in from the bullpen and struck out Howard before retiring Reynolds on a deep fly out to the warning track in center ending the inning.
Owen would then keep the game tied 4-4 with scoreless bottom of the sixth and seventh innings. Owen struck out two in a perfect sixth inning and then worked around a one-out single in the seventh before the Giants reclaimed the lead in the eighth.
Notes
* Rancho Cucamonga won three out of four games in the series.
* Garcia has hit seven home runs over his last 16 games. He is now third in the California League in home runs (15), second in RBI's (59) and second in slugging percentage (.522).
* The Giants out-hit the Quakes 12-10.
* Rancho Cucamonga was 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
* Owen was making his first appearance with San Jose since returning from Sacramento (AAA) on Friday. He retired 10 out of the 12 batters he faced in Saturday's relief appearance.
* Rheault is second in the California League with 11 saves.
* The Giants won for just the fourth time in 14 games against the Quakes this season.
* Menez was charged with four runs (all earned) on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out seven during his 96-pitch outing.
* San Jose has still not been swept in a road series this season.
* The Giants improved to 13-1 in the final game of a road series this year (12 straight wins).
* Duggar (hamstring) and Dobson (shoulder) were activated off the disabled list before the game on Saturday. In corresponding roster moves, infielders Junior Amion and A.J. Ramirez were transferred to Salem-Keizer (Short-Season).
On Deck
The Giants continue their road trip on Sunday evening with the opener of a three-game series against the Lake Elsinore Storm. First pitch at The Diamond is scheduled for 5:00 PM. Mike Connolly (4-7, 4.13 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Lake Elsinore is expected to counter with Thomas Dorminy (2-1, 3.78 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 4:40 PM.
