Rawhide Edge Giants, Win Streak Snapped At Four

SAN JOSE, CA - The San Jose Giants saw their season-high winning streak snapped at four games with a 4-3 loss to the Visalia Rawhide on Thursday evening at Municipal Stadium. In the opener of a four-game series, Visalia starting pitcher Bo Takahashi pitched into the ninth inning before the Rawhide held off a late Giants rally to secure the win. San Jose (30-37) lost for the 12th time in their last 16 home games.
Aramis Garcia (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) had two hits, including his eighth home run of the season, to lead the Giants offensively in defeat. Bryan Reynolds (2-for-3, 2B) and Daniel Carbonell (2-for-3) added two hits apiece.
Takahashi (5-2) earned the win for Visalia with a stellar performance on the mound. The right-hander worked eight-plus innings yielding three runs (all earned) and six hits. Takahashi walked three and struck out two during his 86-pitch outing. Bud Jeter recorded the final three outs of the game for his league-leading 16th save of the season.
San Jose jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Garcia's two-run home run in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Reynolds blooped a single down the left field line before Garcia stepped to the plate and crushed the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in left for a two-run homer.
Grant Watson started on the mound for the Giants and would run into trouble in the top of the second. Marty Herum led off the inning with a single before Austin Byler doubled to deep right putting runners on second and third. A Henry Castillo RBI groundout then scored the first Rawhide run of the night before Matt Jones singled home Byler to tie the game 2-2.
Watson settled down to throw scoreless third and fourth innings inducing double plays in each frame to keep the game tied. Visalia though would take their first lead of the contest with a two-run top of the fifth against the San Jose starter. After Watson retired the first two batters of the inning, Sergio Alcántara and Jason Morozowski delivered back-to-back singles. Herum was up next and he lofted a high fly ball into the right field corner for a double. The hit scored both Alcantara and Morozowski to give the Rawhide a 4-2 lead.
Meanwhile, Takahashi didn't allow another hit after the Garcia home run until Carbonell's leadoff infield single in the bottom of the fifth. Carbonell, however, was thrown out at second attempting to steal to end the inning. In the sixth, Reynolds walked with two outs, but Garcia followed by grounding out.
Still down 4-2, The Giants threatened against Takahashi in the bottom of the seventh. Heath Quinn walked to begin the inning before Dillon Dobson flied out. Carbonell then blooped a single into shallow right to advance Quinn to third. However on the play, Carbonell rounded first base too far and was thrown out for the second out of the inning. T.J. Bennett then lined out softly to shortstop to retire the side. Takahashi breezed through a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth to maintain the two-run Visalia cushion.
In the bottom of the ninth, Reynolds knocked Takahashi out of the game with a leadoff double down the right field line. Jeter then summoned from the bullpen, but he promptly allowed a single to Garcia advancing Reynolds to third. Quinn was up next and he worked a full count, but was ultimately called out on strikes. Dobson followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Reynolds bringing San Jose to within 4-3 although Garcia, the potential tying run, remained at first. Carbonell then flied out to center to end the game.
Watson (0-1) suffered the loss for the Giants after surrendering four runs (all earned) on a career-high 10 hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked none.
Notes
* Thursday was the opener of a four-game series that will close out the first half.
* San Jose fell to a league-worst 4-11 in one-run games. The Giants have lost their last four one-run games (the last three have come to Visalia).
* Visalia out-hit San Jose 13-7.
* The Rawhide were 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position compared to 1-for-3 for the Giants.
* Garcia is tied for fourth in the California League with 44 RBI's.
* Takahashi has won five consecutive starts (1.89 ERA).
* Herum's go-ahead hit was his league-leading 21st double of the season.
* Connor Kaden (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO), Michael Cederoth (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO) and David Owen (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) combined for four scoreless innings of relief for San Jose.
* The Giants were held to three or fewer runs for the 19th time in 32 home games this season (10-22 overall home record).
On Deck
The Giants and Rawhide continue their four-game series on Friday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Jake McCasland (2-6, 5.75 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Ryan Atkinson (3-3, 3.16 ERA). It's Harry Potter Night at the ballpark and a spectacular fireworks show will follow the game. As a part of Harry Potter Night, the San Jose Giants will sport special Harry Potter inspired jerseys. Fans can bid on the uniforms during an in-game silent auction and then receive the jersey right off the player's backs after the game. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.