Newcomers Key 5-3 Giants Victory Over Ports

SAN JOSE - Tyler Horan reached base in all four of his plate appearances and Nick Vander Tuig tossed five effective innings in his first start of the year with San Jose to help the Giants to a 5-3 victory over the Stockton Ports on Friday evening at Municipal Stadium. With the win, San Jose evens the series at a game apiece.

Horan (2-for-2, SB), who was added to the Giants roster from Augusta (A) earlier Friday, singled twice, walked twice, scored a run and stole a base to lead San Jose offensively. Mitch Delfino (2-for-4) added a pair of singles while Chuckie Jones (1-for-4, 2 RBI) drove home two runs.

Vander Tuig (1-0), who also joined the Giants on Friday from Augusta, scattered seven hits and allowed two runs (both earned) during his five-inning outing to pick-up the win. The right-hander walked one and struck out two. Bryce Bandilla worked a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for his sixth save of the season.

The pivotal inning for San Jose offensively was a four-run bottom of the fourth. With Stockton ahead by a 2-1 margin, Delfino started the rally with a one-out single. Ben Turner then grounded a single into left before Horan singled sharply into right to load the bases. Jones was up next and he hit a high chopper to third that deflected off the glove of the Ports' Renato Nunez. Delfino scored the tying run on the play while Jones was credited with an infield single. Stockton starter Dylan Covey then plunked Shawn Payne with the bases loaded to bring home Turner with the go-ahead run. Jared Deacon was up next and he walked on eight pitches to force home another run extending the lead to 4-2. Jesus Galindo then capped the fourth-inning scoring with an RBI groundout for a 5-2 advantage.

Meanwhile, Vander Tuig, after surrendering two runs in the top of the second, did not allow the Ports to score for the remainder of his outing. He pitched around a pair of singles in the top of the third before working out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth. With three runners on base and one out in the top of the fourth, Daniel Robertson hit a sharp grounder to third that was fielded by Delfino, who then started a 5-2-3 inning-ending double play. In the fifth after the Giants took the lead, Matt Olson led off with a double, but was promptly doubled off at second when the next hitter, Nunez, lined out to shortstop. Chad Pinder then grounded out to end the inning.

Jorge Bucardo (1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) relieved Vander Tuig to begin the top of the sixth and allowed a one-out double to Beau Taylor, but recovered to strikeout Bobby Crocker and then set down Jaycob Brugman on a groundout. In the seventh, Bucardo issued a leadoff walk to Zeke DeVoss and then plunked Nunez with two outs, but Stephen Johnson entered from the bullpen and retired Pinder on a groundout to end the inning and maintain the three-run cushion.

Johnson returned to the mound in the top of the eighth and allowed a leadoff single to Ryon Healy before a one-out walk to Crocker brought the tying run to the plate. After Brugman grounded out to advance the runners to second and third, Johnson uncorked a wild pitch allowing Healy to score. But with the lead trimmed to 5-3, Johnson got out of the inning as DeVoss' fly ball down the left field line was caught by a diving Horan for the final out.

In the top of the ninth, Bandilla retired Robertson on a groundout, Olson on a foul pop out and Nunez on a grounder to second to seal the victory.

Covey (0-2) was saddled with the loss after he was charged with five runs (all earned) on seven hits in five innings. Covey walked one and struck out three. Jonathan Joseph tossed three hitless innings of relief for the Ports.

Stockton jumped out early 2-0 in the top of the second as Pinder drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Taylor's one-out double to deep right. Then after Crocker singled, Brugman grounded out to shortstop plating Taylor with the second run of the frame.

San Jose cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second as singles from Delfino and Horan put runners on the corners with one out. Jones then grounded out to shortstop scoring Delfino with the first Giants run of the contest. 

Notes: The Giants are 10-2 in their last 12 home games … Stockton out-hit San Jose 9-7 … The Ports were 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base … Brandon Bednar (1-for-3, SB) extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a fifth-inning single … Horan, second baseman Sam Mende (0-for-4) and Vander Tuig were all added to the Giants roster from Augusta (A) on Friday … Deacon (0-for-2, RBI) was also making his San Jose debut on Friday … Infielder Blake Miller and outfielder Elliott Blair were promoted to Double-A Richmond before the game … Bandilla is 6-for-6 in save opportunities … San Jose (24-17) moved to within two games of Stockton (26-15) for the top spot in the second half North Division standings.

On Deck: The Giants and Ports continue their four-game series on Saturday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 6:00 PM. Matt Lujan (4-1, 3.55 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Josh Bowman (3-7, 5.55 ERA). It's Italian Night presented by Sons of Sicily Aiuto Foundation at the ballpark and tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.