| Visalia Cools Off Giants, 6-1 |
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By Joe Ritzo 5/10/2008
Oaks Snap San Jose's Four-Game Winning Streak
The San Jose Giants suffered the first defeat of their season-long 10-game homestand on Saturday evening when the Visalia Oaks posted a 6-1 victory. In front of 3,252 fans at Municipal Stadium, Oaks starting pitcher Barry Enright was stellar on the mound limiting the Giants to one run over five hits in six innings. Visalia jumped in front 5-0 after 2 1/2 innings and never looked back to even the series at a game apiece. San Jose saw their four-game winning streak come to an end as their record dropped to 23-13.
Clayton Tanner (2-3) was saddled with the loss for the Giants after yielding five runs (all earned) on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings. Tanner, who lost his second straight start, walked four and did not strike out a batter.
Visalia took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs against Tanner in the top of the second inning. Ed Easley started the frame with a single before moving to second on JoJo Batten’s ground out. Steve Mena then grounded a single up the middle to plate Easley with the first run of the contest. Mena stole second base and then scored when Manny Ferrer blooped a single into shallow left field with two outs.
The Oaks took control of the game with three runs in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead. Consecutive singles from Pete Clifford and Easley began the inning before a one-out walk to Mena loaded the bases. Brad Miller followed with a sharp ground ball down the left field line to clear the bases for a three-run double.
The Giants were held to seven hits in the game with Bobby Felmy (2-for-4, 2B) leading the charge. San Jose’s only run of the evening came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Pablo Sandoval led off with a triple to deep right center field and scored when the next hitter, Brett Pill, grounded out to shortstop.
Trailing 5-1, Felmy led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double, but Enright recovered to set down the next three Giants hitters. San Jose put runners on first and second with two outs in the seventh on a Juan Ciriaco walk and a Mike McBryde infield single. However, Oaks reliever Scott Maine induced Matt Downs to pop out to first base ending the threat.
Enright struck out six and did not walk a batter during his stint on the mound. The 2007 second round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks improved his record to 2-3.
Juan Trinidad (2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO) and Wilmin Rodriguez (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO) both pitched out of the Giants bullpen.
Notes: The Giants are now 4-1 on the homestand … Visalia defeated San Jose for the first time in six attempts this season … Enright entered the game with an 8.33 ERA through his first seven starts … Tanner owns a 10.13 ERA (21 ER/18.2 IP) and an 0-3 record over his last five starts … Visalia out-hit the Giants on Saturday by an 11-7 margin … The five-run loss was San Jose’s largest margin of defeat at home this season.
On Deck: The Giants and Oaks will play the rubber game of this three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. and all mom’s will receive a free general admission ticket to the game as part of the Mother’s Day holiday. Kevin Pucetas (5-0, 1.80 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Wes Roemer (2-1, 5.03 ERA). For ticket information, call (408)297-1435 or visit www.sjgiants.com.
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