[Empty Body]
MODESTO, CA - The Giants saw their late rally fall short on Saturday night as the Modesto Nuts earned a 4-3 victory over San Jose at John Thurman Field. The Nuts built a 4-0 lead in the contest before the Giants scored single runs in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings to narrow the gap. San Jose had the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base with two outs in the top of the ninth, but were unable to complete the comeback as Modesto closed out the win. With the loss, the Giants (24-25) fall back into a first-place tie with the Nuts (24-25) in the second half North Division race.
Jalen Miller (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) had a pair of run-scoring hits to lead San Jose offensively in defeat. Jonah Arenado (1-for-4) and Dillon Dobson (1-for-4) also extended hitting streaks to nine games and eight games respectively.
Modesto took an early 1-0 lead with a single run in the bottom of the first against Giants starter Conner Menez. Jordan Cowan led off the frame with a double to deep right before moving to third on Rayder Ascanio's groundout. Kyle Lewis then drove home the run with another groundout.
Bryan Bonnell made a spot-start for the Nuts and fired four scoreless innings with just one hit allowed. Bonnell pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first before working 1-2-3 second, third and fourth innings.
Modesto then pushed across three runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 4-0. Joey Curletta led off the inning with a double. Joe DeCarlo then hit a grounder to third that saw the San Jose third baseman Arenado tag out Curletta as he attempted to advance on the play. Logan Taylor though followed with a double advancing DeCarlo to third before Donnie Walton belted a two-run triple to deep right center for a 3-0 Nuts advantage. Modesto then scored a third run in the inning when Luis Liberato delivered a two-out RBI single.
Trailing 4-0, the Giants began their comeback effort in the top of the sixth. Steven Duggar started the rally with a double off the fence in deep right before taking third on a passed ball. Following a walk to Ryan Howard, Bryan Reynolds lifted a sacrifice fly to left plating Duggar with the first San Jose run.
The Giants then further cut into the Nuts advantage with another run in the seventh. Matt Winn led off with a double and scored on a two-out double to deep left center off the bat of Miller to bring San Jose to within 4-2.
The Giants were set down in order in the eighth before mounting a rally in the top of the ninth. Facing Modesto closer Matt Festa, the inning began with a single from Dobson. Winn then walked to put the potential tying run on base. Festa came back to retire Heath Quinn on a fly out and Ronnie Jebavy on a strikeout before Miller grounded an RBI single up the middle to trim the Nuts lead to 4-3. However with the potential tying run at second and go-ahead run at first, Duggar struck out looking to end the game.
Marvin Gorgas (4-1) was credited with the win out of the Modesto bullpen after pitching 2 2/3 innings with two runs (one earned) and three hits allowed. Gorgas, who entered the game to begin the top of the fifth, walked one and struck out three. Festa collected his fourth save.
Menez (6-6) was saddled with the loss after surrendering four runs (all earned) on seven hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out three.
Notes
* The Giants lost for just fourth time in their last 13 games.
* Modesto out-hit San Jose 9-6.
* The Giants fell to 13-19 (.406) in one-run games this season.
* Arenado is batting .474 (18-for-38) during his nine-game hit streak.
* San Jose is 14-13 against Modesto this year with one game remaining in the season series.
* Menez is winless in his last six starts (0-3, 6.66 ERA).
* Matt Krook pitched three scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Giants on Saturday (2 H, 4 BB, 3 SO).
On Deck
The Giants and Nuts conclude their three-game series on Sunday evening with first pitch at John Thurman Field scheduled for 6:05 PM. Mark Reyes (4-12, 6.06 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Tyler Jackson (0-2, 6.35 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 5:45 PM.
