Giants Allow Seven Runs In First Inning, Lose 13-7

SAN JOSE - Stockton scored seven first-inning runs and the Giants were unable to recover in a 13-7 loss to the Ports on Saturday evening at Municipal Stadium. Stockton's Matt Olson and Renato Nunez hit their 31st and 27th home runs of the season respectively as the Ports built an 11-0 lead en route to the victory. San Jose has now dropped two out of the first three games in the series.

Jesus Galindo (3-for-5, 2 2B, 3B, 2 RBI) produced two doubles, a triple and drove home two runs to lead a 14-hit Giants offensive attack in the loss. Mitch Delfino (2-for-5, 3B), Chuckie Jones (2-for-5) and Alberto Robles (2-for-5) added two hits apiece while Tyler Horan (1-for-3, HR, RBI, SB) smacked his first California League home run.

The first seven batters of the game reached base for Stockton against San Jose starter Matt Lujan with all seven scoring runs. Daniel Robertson led off with a single before consecutive walks to Chad Pinder and Olson loaded the bases. Nunez then crushed a 3-2 pitch from Lujan over the fence in left for a grand slam. The slam was Nunez's second against the Giants this season.

The first-inning rally continued as Ryon Healy and Beau Taylor then delivered back-to-back singles before a walk to Bobby Crocker ended Lujan's night. Jeff Soptic entered from the bullpen and quickly retired Wade Kirkland on a shallow fly out to left, but a walk to Zeke DeVoss brought home Healy with the fifth run of the inning. Robertson then hit a sharp grounder to shortstop that was misplayed by Robles for an error as Taylor and Crocker both scored to make it 7-0.

Soptic (3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 SO) recovered to throw scoreless second and third innings before the Ports offense again went to work in the top of the fourth. Facing Ian Gardeck, Olson led off the fourth inning with a towering home run to deep right center for an 8-0 lead. Gardeck (2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) settled down to retire the next six Stockton batters, but then ran into trouble in the top of the sixth. A leadoff walk to Robertson was followed by Pinder getting hit by a pitch. Gardeck then uncorked a wild pitch that plated Robertson all the way from second base before consecutive RBI doubles from Olson and Nunez extended the lead to 11-0.

Ports starter Josh Bowman began his outing with five scoreless innings yielding four hits. The first two batters of the bottom of the sixth were then retired before the Giants offense exploded. Horan was up next and he crushed a solo home run to right. Sam Mende then singled before a Jones single put runners on the corners. After Jones took second on defensive indifference, Ben Turner singled sharply into right plating two more runs. Robles then greeted new pitcher Blake Hassebrock with an infield single before Galindo hammered a two-RBI triple to deep right. Galindo eventually scored the sixth run of the inning on a passed ball to cut the lead to 11-6.

After Jorge Bucardo (1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) worked a scoreless top of the seventh, San Jose threatened to further cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning, but left the bases loaded. Delfino led off the frame with a triple down the right field line before Horan drew a walk. Rodolfo Fernandez was then summoned from the bullpen and he promptly registered consecutive swinging strikeouts of Mende and Jones. A walk to Turner then loaded the bases, but Robles grounded out to third on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning.

Stockton then pushed across two more runs in the top of the eighth against Tyler Mizenko (1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) as Wade Kirkland belted a two-out, two-RBI double to deep left center.

Trailing 13-6, the Giants got one run back in the bottom of the eighth. Galindo led off with a double and took third on the play when Olson bobbled the ball in deep right for an error. Matt Pare followed with a sacrifice fly to bring San Jose to within 13-7. The Giants though left two more runners on base in the eighth before going down quietly in the ninth.

Bowman (4-7) earned the win after tossing 5 2/3 innings with four runs (all earned) and eight hits allowed. He walked one and struck out three.

Lujan (4-2), who did not record an out and surrendered seven runs (six earned) took the loss.

Notes: San Jose lost for just the third time in their last 13 home games … The Giants out-hit the Ports 14-13 … Brandon Bednar (1-for-5) extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an eighth-inning single … Galindo's triple was his eighth of the season - tied for second in the California League … Nunez has hit two of his league-leading three grand slams this year against San Jose (both at Municipal Stadium) … Horan is 3-for-6 with a home run and two stolen bases in his first two games with the Giants … Stockton is 10-4 at Municipal Stadium this season … The final game time of three hours and 38 minutes matched San Jose's longest nine-inning game of the year … The Giants (24-18) fell three games behind the Ports (27-15) in the second half North Division race.

On Deck: The Giants and Ports conclude their four-game series on Sunday evening with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 PM at Municipal Stadium. Joe Biagini (7-7, 4.39 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Chris Lamb (3-2, 3.41 ERA). It's a KBAY's Giant Sunday at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.