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STOCKTON, CA - Seven of Stockton's nine hits on Thursday night went for extra-bases as the Ports earned a 6-4 victory over the Giants at Banner Island Ballpark. Stockton overcame an early two-run deficit, took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth and then held off San Jose late to secure the series win. Despite the loss, the Giants (53-64 overall, 23-24 second half) remain in a tie for first place in the second half North Division race.
Jonah Arenado (2-for-3, HR, RBI) had two hits, including his 10th home run of the season, to lead San Jose offensively in defeat. Gio Brusa (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) also drove home a pair of runs with a double.
The Giants initially enjoyed a 2-0 lead after scoring twice in the top of the second. Arenado was hit by a pitch to start the frame before Dillon Dobson drew a walk. Brusa then stepped to the plate and ripped a line drive into the right field corner to easily score both runners. Brusa was credited with a double on the play, however was thrown out at third attempting to stretch the hit into a triple.
Jake McCasland started on the mound for San Jose, but was removed after throwing just five pitches due to an apparent injury. Matt Solter relieved McCasland with one out in the bottom of the first and kept the Ports off the scoreboard until the third. A walk to Mikey White started Stockton's third-inning rally before Santiago Chávez doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third. Nate Mondou and Richie Martin then delivered back-to-back RBI groundouts to tie the game 2-2.
The Ports then took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth as Sheldon Neuse led off with an opposite field home run to right against Solter. Later in the frame, Seth Brown tripled down the right field line and scored on a White two-out single to make it 4-2. Stockton then stretched their lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth as Brett Siddall doubled with two outs before a Neuse RBI single.
Meanwhile, Ports starter Norge Ruiz had retired nine straight Giants batters until Bryan Reynolds singled with two outs in the top of the sixth. Arenado followed with a single to move Reynolds to second before Dobson grounded an RBI single up the middle to bring San Jose to within 5-3. Ruiz though prevented further damage when he struck out Brusa with the potential tying runs on base to end the inning.
Stockton then immediately got the run back when Brown led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run to right. The homer was Brown's 20th of the season and it put the Ports in front by a 6-3 margin.
Ronnie Jebavy reached on a one-out infield single in the top of the seventh, but was stranded when the next two Giants batters were retired. In the eighth, Stockton reliever Kyle Friedrichs retired the first two hitters before Arenado launched a towering solo home run to left. The homer cut the Ports lead to 6-4. Dobson then drew a walk to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but Stockton closer Nolan Blackwood entered and struck out Brusa to retire the side.
The Giants again brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth as Jalen Miller was hit by a pitch with two outs, but Blackwood set down Steven Duggar on a groundout to second ending the game.
Ruiz (3-0) earned the win after tossing six innings with three runs (all earned) and five hits allowed. He walked one and struck out two. Blackwood earned his 13th save in 14 opportunities this season.
Solter (4-1) was saddled with the loss out of the bullpen for San Jose. The right-hander was charged with four runs (all earned) on five hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six.
Notes
* The Ports won two out of three games in the series. The Giants suffered their first series loss since dropping three out of four games to Rancho Cucamonga from July 20-23.
* Stockton out-hit San Jose 9-7.
* The Giants had only three at-bats with runners in scoring position (2-for-3).
* The Ports hit eight home runs during the series. Their seven extra-base hits on Thursday were three doubles, two triples and two homers.
* Arenado extended his hitting streak to seven games. He's batting .552 (16-for-31) with two home runs during the hit streak.
* San Jose pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts - one off their season-high.
* Heath Slatton (3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO) and Dylan Rheault (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) also pitched out of the Giants bullpen.
* San Jose lost the final game of a road series for only the second time this season (15-2 record). It was their first road series finale defeat since April 12 at Lancaster (14 straight wins).
* The Giants are in a three-way tie for first place with Modesto and Visalia in the second half North Division standings. 23 games remain in the regular season.
On Deck
The Giants continue their road trip on Friday evening with the opener of a three-game series against the Modesto Nuts. First pitch at John Thurman Field is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Shaun Anderson (1-1, 3.68 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Robert Dugger (1-1, 3.68 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:45 PM.
