Giants Set Second Highest Home Attendance Mark
 
5/22/2009
San Jose Water Night Produces Biggest Municipal Stadium Crowd Since 1988
The Modesto Nuts edged the San Jose Giants by a 3-2 score on Friday night in front of 5,292 fans at Municipal Stadium – the second-highest home attendance mark in San Jose Giants history. The Nuts scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning on Jeff Cunningham’s RBI double while starting pitcher Brandon Durden and two relievers combined to hold the Giants to seven hits. With the defeat, San Jose has suffered their first three-game losing streak of the season while their record drops to 23-19. Durden (3-2) was credited with the victory after surrendering just two runs (one earned) on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander walked none and struck out two. Reliever Matt Reynolds retired all four batters he faced over the seventh and eighth innings for Modesto before Craig Baker pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth for his 13th save in 13 opportunities. Skyler Stromsmoe (2-for-3, 2B) was the only San Jose player to finish with more than one hit. Scott Barnes (4-2) suffered the loss after yielding three runs (all earned) on seven hits over a season-high 6 2/3 innings. Barnes walked one and struck out four. With the game tied 2-2, Barnes began the top of the seventh inning by striking out Radames Nazario. Jay Cox followed by getting hit by a pitch and then Cunningham stepped to the plate and belted a double to the fence in deep right center field to score the go-ahead run. The Giants threatened in the bottom of the seventh when Stromsmoe doubled down the left field line with two outs. The hit prompted a pitching change as Durden departed in favor of Sean Jarrett. Jarrett issued a full-count walk to Brian Bocock to put runners at first and second to bring Reynolds into the game. Nick Noonan was up next, but he struck out on a 1-2 pitch to end the inning. Reynolds went through the heart of the Giants lineup with ease in the bottom of the eighth inning retiring Thomas Neal and Buster Posey on ground outs before striking out Roger Kieschnick. Then in the ninth, Baker induced three straight ground outs to seal the Nuts victory. San Jose initially took the lead with a single run in the bottom of the first inning against Durden. Bocock led off the frame with a double into the gap in left center field before Noonan reached base safely with a bunt single. Neal followed by grounding into a 5-4-3 double play to score Bocock for a 1-0 lead. Barnes allowed only one hit over the first two innings before running into trouble in the top of the third. Cunningham led off with a double before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Michael Mitchell then singled to plate Cunningham with the tying run. The Nuts took the lead with a single run against Barnes in the top of the fourth on back-to-back one-out doubles from Jason Van Kooten and Wilin Rosario. San Jose answered in the bottom of the fourth with a run of their own when Neal singled with one out before scoring on Angel Villalona’s two-out single into center field. Barnes settled into a groove after allowing the fourth-inning run setting down eight out of nine Modesto hitters until the top of the seventh rally. The Giants threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Kieschnick reached first base safely on a bunt single and advanced to third when the catcher Rosario’s throw sailed down the right field line. However, Durden recovered to strike out Villalona ending the threat. Cunningham (3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI) and Van Kooten (3-for-4, 2B) both produced three-hits games to lead the Modesto offensive attack. Notes: The Giants have lost five out of their last six games … San Jose dropped their fifth straight one-run game … The Giants are a league-worst 3-8 in one-run contests … Modesto has won a league-high 16 one-run games (16-7) … Posey (0-for-4) saw his seven-game hitting streak come to an end … The catcher did throw out two attempted base stealers … The largest crowd ever at Municipal Stadium was on August 31, 1988 with an announced attendance of 7,143 … Friday was the annual San Jose Water Night at Municipal Stadium. On Deck: The Giants and Nuts continue their four-game series on Saturday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 6:00 PM. T.J. Brewer (1-0, 2.38 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Kenny Durst (1-2, 3.51 ERA). It’s a MIX 106.5 Saturday in the Park and tickets can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com. Click here to view Box Score Click here to view Game Log