San Jose Giants Blank Visalia Rawhide 7-0 - Cal League

 SAN JOSE - Garrett Broshuis tossed seven scoreless innings while Tyler Graham and Roger Kieschnick both hit home runs leading the San Jose Giants to a 7-0 shutout victory over the Visalia Rawhide on Tuesday night in front of 4,311 fans at Municipal Stadium.  Broshuis limited the Rawhide to just three hits during his dominant stint on the mound as San Jose evened the series at a game apiece.  With the win, San Jose claimed their ninth victory in their last 11 contests and improved their overall record to 38-27 – one game behind Visalia (39-26) for the top spot in the North Division race.  Only five games remain in the first half.
 
Broshuis (5-1) tied the San Jose Giants team record with his 21st career victory on Tuesday.  The right-hander matched Brooks McNiven and Carl Hanselman for the record as he walked only one and struck out four while throwing just 83 pitches during his outing.
 
Thomas Neal (3-for-5, RBI) and David Maroul (3-for-4, 2 2B) both produced three-hit games to lead the Giants offensive attack.  Buster Posey (2-for-4) and Graham (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) also rapped out a pair of hits each while Kieschnick (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) delivered a key three-run homer as part of a five-run bottom of the sixth inning.
 
San Jose quickly jumped ahead in the bottom of the first inning against all-star pitcher Pat McAnaney.  Graham started the frame by driving the first pitch of McAnaney's night over the fence in left center field for a solo home run.  After the next two batters were retired, Posey reached on an infield single back to the mound and advanced to second when McAnaney threw wildly to first.  Then during Kieschnick's at-bat, Posey stole third base before scoring when the catcher Konrad Schmidt fired the ball down the left field line for another error.
 
McAnaney settled down after his difficult first inning and had retired nine consecutive hitters until Brian Bocock reached on a fielding error committed by David Cooper with one out in the bottom of the sixth.  After Bocock stole second, Neal lined an RBI single into right field to give the Giants a 3-0 lead.  Posey followed by drawing a walk before Kieschnick stepped to the plate and drilled the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in straightaway center field for a home run.  The homer, Kieschnick's 10th of the season, pushed the San Jose advantage up to 6-0.
 
The Giants plated one more run in the sixth inning as Maroul followed Kieschnick with a fly ball double into right field that was lost in the lights by right fielder Eli Rumler.  Maroul eventually scored on Graham's two-out, RBI single.
 
McAnaney (7-2) suffered only his second loss of the season after yielding a season-high tying seven runs (four earned) on six hits over 5 1/3 innings.  The left-hander walked two and struck out four.
 
Broshuis allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base in an inning just once.  Ollie Linton started the game by getting hit by a pitch, but he was promptly picked off at first base.  Visalia's first hit came in the top of the second when Konrad Schmidt doubled with two outs, but he was stranded in scoring position when the next batter, Brendan Duffy, grounded out.  Broshuis had retired seven batters in a row until Ed Easley doubled with two outs in the fifth, but the inning quickly came to an end when the following hitter, Cooper, bounced out back to the mound.
 
Broshuis then set down six more hitters in a row before Schmidt doubled with two outs in seventh.  However, Broshuis responded by retiring Duffy on a routine ground out to second base ending his night.
 
Dan Runzler (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO) pitched a scoreless eighth inning out of the Giants bullpen before Steve Edlefsen (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) struck out a pair in the ninth to preserve the shutout.
 
Notes: The Giants pitching staff has now tossed six shutouts this year – tied with Visalia for the league lead … Broshuis, who has won his last three starts, lowered his ERA to 2.49 … He is 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA (1 ER/13.0 IP) in two starts versus the Rawhide … Neal extended his hitting streak to 12 games with his sixth-inning single … Neal singled in each of the last three innings and leads the California League with a .352 batting average … San Jose out-hit Visalia by a 12-3 margin … The three hits allowed matched a season-low for the Giants pitching staff … Graham has homered five times in his first 14 games with San Jose this year … The Giants improved to 4-1 on their current homestand … McAnaney entered the game tied for first in the league in wins and third in ERA.
 
On Deck: The Giants and Rawhide play the rubber game of the their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 12:35 PM.  Scott Barnes (6-3, 3.99 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Visalia is expected to counter with Josh Collmenter (6-4, 3.65 ERA).  Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.

Are You an Insider Yet?
SZ Insider. A look ahead into the big player feature, the big story, tips, rumors, and special opportunities for collectibles and memorabilia only available for our insiders. Free monthly to your e-mailbox. Click the link to subscribe to this FREE newsletter!