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| Denker's Grand Slam Caps San Jose's Comeback |
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By Joe Ritzo 8/28/2007
Giants Score Nine Unanswered Runs To Claim Series Opener, 9-5
Sergio Romo struck out five over two perfect inning for his
eighth save of the season in Tuesday's win at Lancaster
(photo by Damon Tarver) |
Travis Denker hit a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to lead the San Jose Giants to a series-opening 9-5 victory over the Lancaster JetHawks on Tuesday night at Clear Channel Stadium. Denker, in his San Jose debut, finished the contest with six RBI as the Giants rallied from an early 5-0 deficit. With the victory, San Jose improves their overall record to 70-64.
Denker (2-for-5, 2B, HR, 6 RBI), who also contributed a key two-run double in the top of the fifth, led the San Jose 11-hit offensive attack. The second baseman was acquired by the San Francisco Giants in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 25. Ben Copeland (2-for-4, 2 2B, SB), Travis Ishikawa (2-for-4), and Mike Mooney (2-for-4, 2 RBI, SB) also finished with more than one hit.
Paul Oseguera (10-6) recovered from early difficulties to toss six innings en route to earning the victory. The left-hander surrendered four hits and five runs (four earned) with four walks and six strikeouts. Sergio Romo was credited with the save after retiring all six batters he faced – including five via the strikeout – to end the game.
Trailing 5-0, the Giants pushed across their first run in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Ben Copeland doubled to the fence in right center field before Adam Witter flied out. Eddy Martinez-Esteve then stepped to the plate and lined a 3-0 pitch from JetHawks starter T.J. Nall into left field plating Copeland to cut the deficit to 5-1.
In the fifth, Ishikawa led off with a single before David Maroul walked with two outs to put runners on first and second. Denker followed with a line drive double into the left center field gap scoring both Ishikawa and Maroul to bring San Jose within 5-3.
Mooney started the seventh-inning rally with an infield single to third base before Brian Bocock lined a single into right field putting runners on the corners. With the potential tying runs on base, Nall (6 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) exited the contest in favor of reliever T.J. Large. Large, however, would struggle issuing a walk to Maroul to load the bases and bring Denker to the plate. Denker then hammered a 1-0 pitch from Large for a line drive grand slam over the fence in straightaway left field. The home run, Denker’s 11th of the season, gave the Giants their first lead of the game at 7-5.
San Jose added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth inning when Sandoval and Ishikawa led off the frame with consecutive singles before both scored on Mooney’s sharp single into center field.
Oseguera allowed a pair of home runs to Steve Garrabrants in the first two innings as the JetHawks built their lead. In the bottom of the first, Garrabrants belted a two-run homer to deep left center field. Then in the second, he smoked a deep fly ball that bounced off the fence in left center and rolled away from Copeland. Garrabrants raced around the bases for a two-run inside-the-park homer and a 5-0 Lancaster advantage.
Oseguera held the JetHawks off the scoreboard during his final four innings of work. The left-hander surrendered just one hit after Garrabrants’ second-inning home run.
Jason Waddell relieved Oseguera to begin the bottom of the seventh and worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning. However in the eighth, Waddell issued a leadoff walk before consecutive singles loaded the bases. Romo then entered the game and promptly struck out the next two hitters, Zak Farkes and Christian Lara, who both represented the potential tying run. Ryan Khoury then jumped ahead in the count 3-1 and lifted a towering fly ball to deep left field that was caught by Eddy Martinez-Esteve on the edge of the warning track for the third out.
Romo struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to seal the Giants victory.
Notes: San Jose was swept in a three-game series by the JetHawks, April 24-26, in their only previous visit to Lancaster … Denker hit .294 with 27 doubles, ten home runs, and 57 RBI with the Inland Empire 66ers before the trade … The grand slam was the Giants’ second of the year (Tyler Von Schell, May 31 vs. Bakersfield) … To make room for Denker on the roster, first baseman Will Thompson (.207 AVG, 0 HR, 30 RBI) was assigned to Fresno (AAA) … Oseguera tied Ronnie Ray for the team-lead in victories … His 3.33 ERA is fifth-lowest in the California League … During the month of August (11 appearances), Romo has compiled a 0.00 ERA with 36 strikeouts and just three walks in 20 innings … He has allowed only seven hits and one unearned run … Mark Minicozzi (left hand) missed his fourth straight game … He is expected to play on Wednesday … San Jose remains four games behind Modesto (74-60) for the top overall record in the North Division … Six games remain in the regular season.
On Deck: The Giants and JetHawks continue this three-game series on Wednesday evening with first pitch at Clear Channel Stadium scheduled for 7:00 P.M. Henry Sosa (5-4, 3.95 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Lancaster is expected to counter with Travis Beazley (6-2, 4.30 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.
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