Giants Hang On For 7-6 Victory Over Ports
SAN JOSE - The San Jose Giants jumped out to a five-run lead after three innings and then held off Stockton late to earn a 7-6 victory over the Ports on Sunday evening at Municipal Stadium. Stockton scored four times in the top of the eighth to cut the deficit to one, but stranded the potential tying run at third base before falling short. The Giants have won three out of their last four games to improve their overall record to 61-40.
Eric Sim (2-for-4, 3 RBI) drove home three runs with a pair of singles to lead San Jose offensively. Mac Williamson (2-for-3) added two hits for the Giants.
Kelvin Marte (3-2) picked-up the win after limiting the Ports to two runs (both earned) on five hits over 6 2/3 innings. The San Jose starter walked just one and matched a season-high with six strikeouts. Derek Law struck out two in a scoreless top of the ninth to record his third save of the year.
The Giants wasted no time taking the lead scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Brock Bond started the frame by drawing a walk before coming home two batters later when Hector Sanchez smacked a double off the wall in deep right center. Williamson and Ricky Oropesa then each walked to load the bases before Sim stepped to the plate with two outs and lined a two-run single into center for a 3-0 advantage.
San Jose extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the third as Oropesa and Elliott Blair both walked before Sim laced an RBI single off the wall in left. Then after Myles Schroder singled to load the bases, Chris Lofton delivered an RBI groundout to make it 5-0.
Marte began his outing with three scoreless innings and retired 10 out of the first 11 batters that he faced. However in the top of the fourth, Josh Whitaker singled with one out before Tony Thompson blasted a two-out, two-run homer to left. The home run cut the Giants advantage to 5-2.
San Jose though reclaimed their five-run lead in the bottom of the sixth as Bond and Kelby Tomlinson produced back-to-back two-out, RBI singles for a 7-2 cushion.
Meanwhile, Marte kept the Ports off the scoreboard in the fifth and sixth innings and then left the game after surrendering a two-out double in the top of the seventh. Luis Rojas (1 1/3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO) entered from the bullpen and quickly struck out Wade Kirkland to end the seventh, but struggled in the top of the eighth as Stockton mounted their comeback.
Five out of the first six batters that Rojas faced to begin the top of the eighth knocked out hits as the Ports scored four runs in the frame. Myrio Richard led off with a double and immediately scored when the next batter, Antonio Lamas, singled. After Whitaker singled, a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Then with one out, Thompson lined a single into left center to plate both Lamas and Whitaker cutting the lead to 7-5. Bobby Crocker was up next and he hammered a triple into the left center gap to make it 7-6. However with the potential tying run at third, Rojas set down Rashun Dixon on a shallow line out to center before Phil Pohl grounded out to second to end the inning.
In the top of the ninth, Law allowed a leadoff single to Kirkland, but followed by striking out Richard, retiring Lamas on a deep fly out to right center and then striking out Whitaker to finish the game.
Stockton starter Michael Ynoa (0-2) suffered the loss after yielding five runs (all earned) on five hits over two-plus innings of work. He walked six and struck out one.
Notes: The teams have split the first two games of the series … The Giants improved to 3-2 on their current homestand … San Jose stranded 14 runners on base - their highest total in a nine-inning game this season … Both clubs finished with 11 hits … Law is 3-for-3 in save opportunities since joining the Giants from Augusta (A) on July 6 … Sanchez finished 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and an RBI before he was removed for a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning … Before the game, pitcher Austin Fleet was transferred to Fresno (AAA) while Edward Concepcion was activated off the disabled list.
On Deck: The Giants and Ports conclude their three-game series on Monday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Jason Forjet (3-1, 3.09 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with James Simmons (7-3, 4.12 ERA). Tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.