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Giants Host Lancaster In Four-Game Series

JetHawks (70-46) at Giants (60-56)
August 7, 2014

At Municipal Stadium
Thursday, August 7, 7:00 PM
Friday, August 8, 7:00 PM
Saturday, August 9, 5:00 PM
Sunday, August 10, 5:00 PM

Probable Starting Pitching Matchups
Thursday
Lancaster - Matt Heidenreich (3-3, 4.25)
San Jose - Nick Vander Tuig (1-0, 3.60)

Friday
Lancaster - Zach Morton (1-1, 5.57)
San Jose - Matt Lujan (4-2, 4.97)

Saturday
Lancaster - Evan Grills (1-1, 3.27)
San Jose - Joe Biagini (7-8, 4.62)

Sunday
Lancaster - Brian Holmes (4-1, 5.10)
San Jose - Pat Young (9-4, 5.63)

Broadcast Information
The games on Friday and Saturday will be televised live on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104 with Joe Ritzo handing the play-by-play and Joe Castellano providing color commentary. The entire series can also be heard live on sjgiants.com and inside Municipal Stadium on 92.9 FM. All 140 games this season will be aired on the club's official website and the San Jose Giants Mobile App. Additionally, every home game is streamed live and available on demand through MiLB.TV.

Giants Begin Four-Game Series Against Lancaster Tonight
The San Jose Giants return home this evening to begin a four-game series against the Lancaster JetHawks at Municipal Stadium. Nick Vander Tuig (1-0, 3.60) is slated to make the start on the mound for San Jose tonight. The Giants are 1-5 against Lancaster this season with this series marking the first and only meeting between the teams in San Jose.

Doubleheader Sweep
San Jose swept a doubleheader from the host Bakersfield Blaze yesterday afternoon earning wins of 5-4 and 8-6. With the two victories, the Giants won two out of three games in the series. In the opener yesterday, Ydwin Villegas hit a three-run home run to key a decisive fourth-inning rally for San Jose. Villegas returned to the Giants yesterday after a second stint this season with Triple-A Fresno. Martin Agosta picked-up the win after tossing five innings with four runs (all earned) and seven hits allowed. Bryce Bandilla struck out the side in a scoreless bottom of the seventh to earn the save. San Jose then used a five-run top of the fifth inning in the second game before holding off the Blaze late to complete the doubleheader sweep. Chuckie Jones (3-for-4, HR, RBI) homered as part of a three-hit game while Jesus Galindo (1-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI) delivered a go-ahead three-run double during the fifth inning rally. Jeff Soptic notched the win in relief with Tyler Mizenko recording the final out of the contest to collect the save.

Playoff Race
San Jose's 60-56 overall record is one game behind the Visalia Rawhide (61-55) for the North Division wild card lead. Including tonight, there are 24 games remaining in the regular season. The Giants have reached the playoffs in a California League record 10 consecutive years (2004-2013). San Jose (26-20) is also five games behind the Stockton Ports (31-15) in the second half North Division race. The Giants have four games remaining against Stockton this season (August 15-18) and three games left versus the Rawhide (August 22-24).

Trouble With The Ports, Rawhide
The Giants have struggled of late against Stockton and Visalia. Since the beginning of July, San Jose is a combined 4-12 versus the Ports and Rawhide (4-8 vs. Stockton, 0-4 vs. Visalia) and a sizzling 17-2 against the rest of the league.

Horan's Immediate Impact
Outfielder Tyler Horan has made an immediate impact since joining the Giants from Augusta (A) last Friday. In his first six games with San Jose, Horan is 6-for-17 (.353) with two home runs, three RBI's and two stolen bases. Horan has also drawn seven walks and owns a .560 on-base percentage. He homered last Saturday against Stockton before going deep again on Tuesday in Bakersfield. An eighth round pick in the 2013 draft, Horan was leading Augusta in batting average (.273), doubles (22), triples (5), home runs (15), RBI's (54) and slugging percentage (.481) in his 102 games.

Starting Slow
Over the last five games (2-3 record), Giants starting pitchers have combined to allow 24 runs (23 earned) in 17 innings (12.18 ERA).

One-Run Success
The Giants are 17-10 in one-run games this season - tied for the best record in the California League (Bakersfield). San Jose is 6-1 in their last seven one-run games.

Lollis Returns
Outfielder Ryan Lollis was added to the Giants roster on Tuesday from Double-A Richmond. In 69 games for the Flying Squirrels, Lollis hit .218 with four doubles, three triples, one home run and 17 RBI's. Lollis spent the first three months of the 2012 season in San Jose and batted .296 with five home runs and 39 RBI's over 75 games. He also played in 14 games with the Giants early in 2011 (.255, 0 HR, 5 RBI).

Delfino Delivers
Third baseman Mitch Delfino has multi-hits in 12 out of his last 17 games. During the 17-game stretch, Delfino is batting at a .394 clip (28-for-71) with a home run and 11 RBI's. Delfino leads all current Giants players in hits (128), doubles (25) and RBI's (64) while he's third in home runs (10).

Versus The South
San Jose is 19-11 against South Division teams this season, including 12-4 at Municipal Stadium.

Opponent Notes: Lancaster JetHawks
The Lancaster JetHawks, an affiliate of the Houston Astros, have already clinched a playoff berth after winning the first half South Division title. Lancaster's overall record stands at a league-best 70-46. The JetHawks are second in the league in batting average (.288), first in runs scored (721) and seventh in ERA (4.68).