STOCKTON, Calif. - An early home run sparked the San Jose Giants offense an ultimately sank the Stockton Ports on Monday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Joey Bart's three-run homer in the first inning plated the first of San Jose's 10 runs on the night as the Giants routed the
STOCKTON, Calif. - An early home run sparked the San Jose Giants offense an ultimately sank the Stockton Ports on Monday night at Banner Island Ballpark. Joey Bart's three-run homer in the first inning plated the first of San Jose's 10 runs on the night as the Giants routed the Ports 10-1 to open a three-game series.
Ports starter Xavier Altamirano (0-1) gave up a walk and a single to open the top of the first and faced Bart with two on and one out. Bart launched his first home run of the season on a 3-0 pitch, a towering blast to left field that gave San Jose an early 3-0 lead.
Giants starter Aaron Phillips worked around back-to-back walks issued to open the first inning but gave up Stockton's lone run of the game in the second. With two outs and the bases clear, Jonah Bride hit a solo homer to left that put Stockton on the board. It was the first of only four hits on the night, however, for the Ports. Phillips would not factor into the decision in his California League debut as he went two innings and allowed one run on two hits while walking three and striking out three.
Altamirano would be tagged for another home run in the ensuing half-inning. With one on and two out, John Riley hit a two-run blast to right to increase the San Jose lead to 5-1. Altamirano would suffer the loss, going three-plus innings and allowing five runs on four hits while walking four and striking out four.
Pat Krall came on in relief for Altamirano in the fourth inning and worked through the fifth. Krall would give up a leadoff walk to Heliot Ramos in the fifth followed by a ground rule double to Bart. Jean Angiomas delivered a sac-fly to center and, two batters later, David Villar singled to bring in Bart and stretch the San Jose lead to 7-1. Krall allowed two runs on five hits over two innings of work.
Sam Sheehan came on to work the sixth and issued a leadoff walk to Orlando Garcia. Two batters later, Bart drew a walk and Angiomas followed with an RBI single to center. Two batters later with two outs, Villar delivered a two-run double to the right field corner that gave the Giants a 10-1 cushion. Sheehan allowed three runs on two hits over an inning-and-two-thirds.
Seth Martinez pitched 1 1/3 scoreless frames in relief of Sheehan and Hunter Hargrove moved from first base to the mound to pitch the ninth and struck out two batters while working around a one-out walk to keep the Giants off the board.
For San Jose, Joey Marciano (1-0) John Russell and Frank Rubio combined for seven scoreless innings of relief with Marciano picking up the victory after working three scoreless frames in relief of Phillips.
The Ports and Giants play a matinee to continue their series on Tuesday at Banner Island Ballpark. Daulton Jefferies (1-0, 0.00 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by San Jose right-hander Jose Marte (0-0, 0.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 11:10 a.m. PDT.
