San Jose Giants Rally Past Stockton Ports 6-5 - California League

Stockton - The San Jose Giants scored three runs – all with two outs - in the top of the ninth inning to rally past the Stockton Ports 6-5 and claim the First Half North Division title on Saturday night at Banner Island Ballpark.  Tyler Graham delivered a two-run single in the final inning to tie the game before scoring the winning run on a throwing error committed by Ports shortstop Frank Martinez.  The win, combined with Visalia’s loss Saturday at Bakersfield, clinched the first half crown for the Giants.  San Jose has now won a California League record five straight first half titles.
 
By virtue of winning the first half, the Giants have qualified for the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.  San Jose receives a first round bye and will open the post-season at Municipal Stadium on Saturday, September 12 with Game One of the best-of-five North Division Series.

 
With the Giants trailing by a 5-3 score, Angel Villalona began the top of the ninth rally with a line drive single up the middle.  After Conor Gillaspie was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second, Ports reliever Justin Friend attempted a pick-off play at second base.  However, Friend’s high throw bounced off of the glove of second baseman Michael Richard and into shallow center field for an error.  The miscue allowed Villalona to advance to third while Gillaspie, the potential tying run, took second.
 
Friend recovered to set down pinch-hitter David Maroul on a shallow fly out to right before Nick Noonan struck out.  Graham though was up next and he lined the first pitch of his at-bat into left field for a single to easily score both runners tying the game at 5-5.
 
Graham promptly stole second base and then Brian Bocock hit a ground ball to shortstop that Martinez fielded, but threw wildly to first.  The throw skipped past first baseman Yusuf Carter and into foul territory scoring Graham with the go-ahead run.
 
Steve Edlefsen (1-1) was credited with the victory after tossing two no-hit innings of relief.  Edlefsen, who entered the game in the bottom of the eighth with the Giants trailing, walked two and struck out two.  Edlefsen quickly retired the Ports 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth, including a game-ending strikeout of Christian Vitters, to seal the Giants victory.
 
Villalona (3-for-4) and Graham (2-for-4, 2 RBI) both finished with multi-hit games to lead the San Jose offensive attack.
 
The Giants initially took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning against Ports starter Scott Mitchinson.  With one out, Bocock reached on an infield single before Thomas Neal was hit by a pitch.  After Buster Posey grounded out to advance the runners to second and third, Roger Kieschnick lofted a fly ball down the left field line that dropped over the head of Shane Keough and to the fence for a two-run triple.
 
San Jose added a single run in the top of the fourth inning as Villalona singled with one out before scoring when Noonan’s two-out pop up into shallow right glanced off of the glove of the second baseman Richard for an error.
 
Giants starter Oliver Odle began his outing with five scoreless innings and didn’t allow the leadoff hitter to reach base until Carter began the bottom of the sixth with a single.  Daniel Turpen relieved Odle after Carter’s hit and promptly allowed a single to the next hitter, Vitters, to put runners on first and second.  After a strikeout of Keough, Todd Johnson hit a soft grounder along the first base line that Turpen fielded, but threw wildly to first for an error.  The play allowed Carter to score Stockton’s first run of the night as Vitters took third and Johnson advanced to second.  Martinez then stepped to the plate and lined a two-run single into right to tie the contest at 3-3.
 
Stockton jumped ahead in the bottom of the seventh inning, again taking advantage of a Giants error.  With one out, Richard singled off of Turpen before Mitchell drew a walk.  Carter then grounded a ball to third, but the Giants failed to record an out on the play when Gillaspie’s throw to second, in an attempt to force out Mitchell, was late.  Vitters followed with a soft ground ball to first that was mishandled by Villalona for an error as Richard scored the go-ahead run.  Keough then delivered a sacrifice fly to left plating Mitchell for a 5-3 Ports advantage.
 
Odle received a no-decision after allowing one run on five hits over five-plus innings of work.  The right-hander walked one and struck out three.
 
Bakersfield officially completed their victory over Visalia two minutes before the end of San Jose’s win.  News of the Rawhide’s loss reached the Giants players once they reached the clubhouse setting off a wild celebration.

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