San Jose Giants Edge Stockton Ports 2-1 in 11 - Adv A, California League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Pablo Sandoval scored the winning run on a fielder’s choice ground ball in the bottom of the 11th inning propelling the San Jose Giants to a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Stockton Ports on Sunday evening. In front of 3,625 fans at Municipal Stadium, Giants pitchers stranded eight Stockton baserunners over the final four frames before ultimately winning the contest in the 11th.

With the victory, San Jose improves their record to 31-19 and moves into sole possession of first place in the North Division – one game ahead of Stockton and Bakersfield.

With the game tied 1-1, Sandoval led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a sharp single into center field. Ryan Rohlinger was up next and he blooped a single into shallow center field advancing Sandoval to third base. Andy D’Alessio then grounded a ball to second base that was stopped by a diving Mike Affronti, who was playing in on the grass. As Sandoval initially froze at third base, Affronti gathered himself and threw to second in an attempt to force out Rohlinger.

However, as soon as Affronti let go of the baseball, Sandoval broke for the plate and scored easily.

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Juan Trinidad (1-0) was credited with the victory for the Giants after tossing two scoreless innings of relief. Trinidad surrendered two hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Stockton tied the game in the top of the eighth inning with a single run against the San Jose bullpen. Steve Edlefsen started the frame by issuing a walk to Frank Martinez before Affronti singled to put runners on first and second. Matt Sulentic then singled sharply into center field plating Martinez with the tying run as Affronti moved to second.

Taylor Wilding was promptly summoned from the bullpen and the right-hander retired Gustavo Rosendo on a sacrifice bunt as the runners moved to second and third. Then with the infield playing in, Wilding struck out Archie Gilbert before an intentional walk to Josh Horton loaded the bases.

With the left-handed hitting Jermaine Mitchell up next, the Giants brought in left-hander Joe Paterson to pitch. The southpaw, who was making his California League debut, worked the count to 3-2 before striking out Mitchell looking with a curve ball to end the inning. In the top of the ninth, two Paterson walks (one intentional) put runners on first and second with two outs.

But again the reliever would get out of trouble as he struck out Sulentic looking to keep the game deadlocked. Trinidad surrendered a one-out double to Gilbert before issuing a two-out walk in the tenth inning. However, Sean Doolittle would fly out to deep center field to end the threat.

Then in the 11^th, Trinidad worked through a two-out single to keep the contest tied at a stalemate. San Jose initially jumped in front 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning when D’Alessio connected for a solo home run to deep right center field.

Henry Sosa made the start on the mound for the Giants in his 2008 debut. The right-hander, who was added to the roster from Extended Spring Training (knee injury) before the game, tossed four scoreless innings on Sunday. Sosa allowed two hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Notes: The Giants are in sole possession of first place in the North Division for the first time since April 23 … 20 games remain in the first half … In addition to Trinidad, Edlefsen (3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO), Wilding (2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Paterson (1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO) all worked out of the San Jose bullpen … Paterson was promoted from Augusta (Low-A) before the game … To make room for Sosa and Paterson on the roster, pitcher Ryan Paul was sent to Augusta while catcher Tyler LaTorre was transferred to Extended Spring Training … Sandoval (2-for-5) and Rohlinger (2-for-4) both finished with multiple-hit games for the Giants … Both clubs ended the night with six hits … San Jose, which scored their first walk-off win of the year, improved to 2-1 in extra-inning games (1-0 at Municipal Stadium) … D’Alessio’s home run was his sixth of the season.

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