ORGANIZATIONAL REPORT Saturday, April 29, 2017 TEAM LEVEL RECORD LAST GAME STREAK/ LAST 10 Sacramento River Cats Triple-A 7-14; 5.5 GB 4st Place L 1-2 @ Tacoma L2, 2-8 Richmond Flying Squirrels Double-A 7-12; 3.5 GB 6th Place L 1-2 @ Harford L2, 3-7 San Jose Giants High-A 11-11; 2.0 GB 3rd Place W, 11-4 Vs. Stockton W2, 4-6 Augusta Greenjackets Low-A 10-12; 5.0 GB 6th Place W, 3-2 Vs. Greenville W1, 7-3
Pitching takes center stage in tough loss Despite excellent outings from Roth and 'pen, River Cats drop second straight to Tacoma Both teams got the best from their pitching staffs Friday night, but the Sacramento River Cats (7-14) came up just short against the Tacoma Rainiers (12-8), falling 2-1 at Cheney Field. Michael Roth was on the mound to start for Sacramento, just his third this season and second since moving to the rotation full time. The left-hander was excellent, throwing five innings and allowing just two runs to a productive Tacoma offense. Behind him, the River Cats bullpen put together three scoreless innings. Bryan Morris pitched around a hit and a walk in the sixth before Roberto Gomez and Josh Osich combined for a perfect seventh and eighth innings. At the plate, the River Cats scrapped for one run on six hits, two of which came from first baseman Jae- Gyun Hwang. The team's lone RBI came off the bat of Juan Ciriaco, whose second-inning sacrifice fly put the River Cats on the board. The RBI was his first of the 2017 season. Game three is tomorrow night as Sacramento's Dan Slania (0-2, 7.36) faces off against Tacoma's RHP Sam Gaviglio (0-3, 3.66). First pitch is set for 5:05 pm (PT) and the game can be heard live online at rivercats.com. Postgame Notes One-run games: Tonight was the River Cats fifth one-run game of the season fell to 3-4 on the season in such contests. Hwang: Jae-Gyun Hwang collected two hits in tonight's loss, his eighth multi-hit game of the season has two hits in four of his last seven games his average is up to.303 for the season. Roth: Michael Roth's outing tonight was his longest of the season (five innings) previous high was 4.2 innings (4/22 vs. Las Vegas) threw 83 pitches (49 strikes) and allowed two runs on six hits and two walks did not record a strikeout. Morris: Bryan Morris made his third appearance with the River Cats the veteran right-hander has allowed just three baserunners (two hits, one walk) in three innings of work since joining the Sacramento roster. Early Disadvantage: The River Cats scored first in tonight's game but were unable to hold the lead are now a Pacific Coast League-worst 4-5 (.444) when scoring first.despite excellent outings from Roth and 'pen, River Cats drop second straight to Tacoma
Goats Grab Game One; Hold Squirrels To One Run Sam Coonrod K's Seven In Defeat Hartford, CT - Sam Coonrod recorded seven strikeouts and turned in a quality start for the Flying Squirrels in a 2-1 Richmond loss to the Yard Goats (8-10) on Friday night in Hartford. Richmond (7-12) was held to one run on five hits in their first ever contest played at Dunkin' Donuts Park. Slade Heathcott made a highlight reel catch in the fifth inning, taking a home run away from Hartford's Dillon Thomas by leaping above the left center field wall. The Squirrels second road trip of the season continues on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. The Yard Goats scored the go-ahead run and snapped a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning. Ryan McMahon doubled up the first base line to score Max White. Coonrod finished the sixth inning and allowed just the two runs in the loss. Hartford's White jumped on the first pitch he saw from Coonrod in the first, doubling to right center field. Coonrod quickly turned to a steady dose of off-speed pitches, and retired the next three hitters to end the inning and strand White. Richmond returned the favor and threatened against Hartford starting hurler Yency Almonte in the second inning. With one out, Dylan Davis picked up his first Double-A hit with a single to left field. Hunter Cole then smashed a double off the façade in right center field, but Almonte retired the next two hitters to keep the game scoreless. Coonrod quickly shrugged off the first inning double and retired the next 13 hitters he faced. The righty punched out Dillon Thomas and Collin Ferguson to start the second and Emerson Jimmenez in the third. Coonrod mowed down the side in the fourth inning and was through the first four frames on 50 pitches. The Squirrels once again applied pressure on Almonte in the fifth inning, but could not score. Rando Moreno worked a walk to begin the inning and Almonte walked Heathcot and Ali Castillo with two outs to load the bases. Miguel Gomez then grounded out to keep the contest without a run. The Yard Goats finally broke through with a run in the fifth inning to snap the stalemate. Dillon Thomas led off the inningwith a deep shot to left center field. Heathcott sized up the fly ball and leapt above the wall to take away a home run. The very next batter, Drew Weeks, knocked a ball into nearly the exact same spot, this time just over the glove of Heathcott for a home run. The Squirrels came back in the top of the sixth to tie the game, 1-1. Davis connected on his second hit of the night, a booming single off the right field wall and scored when Hunter Cole lashed a double to left center field. It was the second double of the game for Cole and his seventh of the year. The Yard Goats quickly regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Coonrod walked Max White to start the inning and relinquished a one-out double off the first base bag to Ryan McMahon to give Hartford a 2-1 lead.
Coonrod and Almonte were both through after the sixth inning. Coonrod (0-2) allowed the two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in the defeat. Almonte (2-0) earned the win and yielded just the one run on five hits over six innings. Hartford reliever Steve Ascher tossed a scoreless seventh inning to back Almonte, but walked Chris Shaw to begin the eighth inning. Righty D.J Johnson then entered and worked around a walk of his own by inducing an inning-ending double play to keep the Hartford 2-1 lead intact. Richmond turned to Christian Jones for the seventh inning and Reyes Mornonta for the eighth. Both relievers tossed scoreless innings with Mornota picking up a pair of strikeouts. The Flying Squirrels continue their second road trip of the season on Saturday at Dunkin' Donuts Park in Hartford, CT. Lefty Matt Lujan (0-0, 2.40) will make the start for Richmond against RHP Parker French for the Yard Goats. The game can be heard on Fox Sports 910 AM and on the iheart Media app starting at 5:35 p.m. The Squirrels will return to TheDiamond on May 4 for Star Wars Night and In-Your-Face- Fireworks presented by Steak 'n' Shake. Season tickets, mini plans and group outings are available by contacting the Flying Squirrels box office at 804-359-3866 or online at www.squirrelsbaseball.com
San Jose Giants Dillon Dobson Accomplishes Historical Feat Dobson is first player in San Jose Giants history to launch three home runs in a single game at Muni On April 28, 2017, San Jose Giants second baseman Dillon Dobson accomplished something no one had ever done before in the club's 30-year history by hitting three home runs in a single game at Municipal Stadium. Hector Sanchez (5/23/11) and Adam Witter (8/3/07) both hit three home runs in a single game, but did so while on the road. Dobson's incredible night included a 4-4 performance and 5 RBI's. Dobson's efforts helped propel the Giants to a 11-4 victory over the Stockton Ports. The left-handed swinging Dobson is now hitting.340 on the year with a.411 on base percentage, 4 homers and 15 RBI's. The series continues Saturday, April 29 at 6:00 PM at Municipal Stadium with Heath Slatton on the mound for the San Jose Giants and Chris Bassitt (MLB Rehab Assignment) scheduled to pitch for the Stockton Ports. Dobson's Three Homers Power Giants To 11-4 Win San Jose rolls in homestand opener SAN JOSE, CA - Dillon Dobson became the first player in San Jose Giants history to hit three home runs in a home game when he accomplished the feat in an 11-4 victory over the Stockton Ports on Friday night at Municipal Stadium. In the opener of a three-game series, San Jose (11-11) hit a season-high tying four home runs en route to the convincing win. Dobson (4-for-4, 3 HR, 5 RBI) blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the first, hit a solo shot in the sixth and added a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh. His three home runs tied a San Jose Giants single-game franchise record (30 seasons, 1988-2017). Adam Witter (August 3, 2007 at Bakersfield) and Hector Sanchez (May 23, 2011 at Stockton) also hit three home runs in a game for the Giants (both on the road). Gio Brusa (1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI) also homered for San Jose on Friday as part of a three-rbi night while Ryan Howard (2-for-4, RBI) extended his hitting streak to seven games. Mike Connolly (2-2) earned the win on the mound after tossing a season-high seven innings with just two runs allowed. Connolly surrendered six hits, walked none and struck out five during his masterful 85-pitch outing. The Giants jumped out early as back-to-back homers from Brusa and Dobson in the bottom of the first gave San Jose a 3-0 lead. With one out, Howard singled before Brusa stepped to the plate with two down and belted an opposite-field two-run homer to left. Dobson followed by driving a fly ball over the fence in right for a home run of his own and a 3-0 advantage. The Giants then pushed their lead to 5-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. A walk to Brusa started the frame before Dobson singled to put runners on first and second. Matt Winn followed with a fly out to deep center advancing Brusa to third before a balk called on Ports reliever Joey Wagman plated a run. Two batters later, Jose Vizcaino Jr. delivered a two-out RBI single to make it 5-0.
Meanwhile, Connolly began his night with four scoreless innings. The right-hander set down Stockton 1-2-3 in the first, third and four frames. In the second, Seth Brown and Tyler Ramirez produced back-toback singles to start the inning, but Connolly induced Mikey White to ground into a double play before Trent Gilbert popped out. Connolly threw only 42 pitches over the first four innings. The Ports finally broke through against Connolly in the top of the fifth. Ramirez led off the inning with a single. A strikeout of White followed before Gilbert grounded into a fielder's choice with Ramirez forced out at second. Chris Iriart was up next and he hammered a single into deep left center that scored Gilbert all the way from first with Stockton's first run of the game. The Ports then trimmed the San Jose lead to 5-2 when Skye Bolt connected for a two-out solo home run to right center in the top of the sixth. Stockton though would get no closer in the contest as the Giants got the run right back in the bottom of the sixth when Dobson launched a one-out solo homer to left. Then after Connolly pitched around a leadoff double in the top of the seventh, San Jose broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Facing reliever Brett Graves, the seventh-inning rally began when Johneshwy Fargas struck out with one down, but reached first safely when the pitch bounced away from catcher Iolana Akau. After Fargas stole second, Jalen Miller singled before Howard lined an RBI single into center. A walk to Bryan Reynolds followed to load the bases and then a fielder's choice groundout from Brusa brought home Miller to make it 8-2. Dobson was up next and he smashed a 1-0 pitch from Graves over the wall in straightaway center for his third home run of the night. The homer extended the Giants lead to 11-2. Stockton scored twice in the top of the eighth against reliever Caleb Smith (2/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 SO) as three walks loaded the bases before Ramirez laced a two-rbi double down the right field line. Dylan Rheault (1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) though entered from the bullpen and prevented further damage in the inning before working a 1-2-3 top of the ninth to finish the game. Ports starter Casey Meisner (1-4) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (all earned) on three hits over the first three innings. He struck out two and walked none. Notes * Dobson was playing in just his second game since returning from the disabled list. He was activated on Thursday after missing eight games with an elbow injury. Dobson entered Friday with one home run this season in 12 games. * Dobson became the first San Jose player this season to have a multi-homer game. * The Giants out-hit the Ports 9-7. * San Jose has 12 baserunners in the game with 11 scoring runs. * The Giants hit back-to-back home runs for the second time this year. Aramis Garcia and Brusa also went back-to-back on April 11 at Lancaster (10-5 win).
* Connolly became the first San Jose hurler to pitch past the sixth inning this season. He now owns a 1.69 ERA through four starts this year. * The Giants improved to 5-2 against Stockton this season. * Graves (3 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) entered Friday with a league-leading 0.50 ERA. He had allowed only one earned run in 18 innings this season. * San Jose has won back-to-back games for the first time since April 13-14. * The Giants stole their first base since April 13 (14 games) when Fargas swiped second in the bottom of the seventh. * Friday was the opener of a six-game homestand. On Deck The Giants and Ports continue their three-game series on Saturday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 6:00 PM. Heath Slatton (0-1, 16.20 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose. Oakland A's right-hander Chris Bassitt will start for Stockton on a rehabilitation assignment. The first 1,000 fans through the gates on Saturday will receive a San Francisco Giants Brandon Crawford giveaway backpack, complete with a cape. It's also a Mix 106.5 Saturday in the Park while a spectacular fireworks show, presented by Blossom Valley Pony Baseball, will follow the game. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.
GreenJackets Walk off Drive GreenJackets Get Walk off Win in Ten Innings With runners on second and third two outs, and the game tied at two in the bottom of the tenth, Kevin Rivera came up to bat for the Augusta GreenJackets. He hit a line drive single to right field to give the GreenJackets the 3-2 victory over the Greenville Drive Friday night at a sold out Lake Olmstead Stadium. The victory improved the GreenJackets to 10-12 on the season. "I was looking for something that I could handle and hit far so the run would score," said Rivera. The Drive led 1-0 going into the bottom of the fifth. With one out in the inning and Tyler Brown on third, Rivera hit a single to score Brown and tie the game at one. A fielding error by Ryan Scott allowed Rivera to come all the way home on the play giving the GreenJackets the lead. Each starting pitcher through six solid innings on the mound. For the GreenJackets, Melvin Adon gave up only the one run off of two hits and recorded six strikeouts. Both hits as well as the run he gave up came in the second. Despite giving up the run, he was able to strike out the side that inning. "Pitching wise, it could not get any better," said Manager Carlos Valderrama. "It was a great performance by Adon. The relievers did an outstanding job holding them." For the Drive, starter Shaun Anderson only gave up the two runs on the ball hit by Rivera in the fifth. He allowed five hits and only struck out one. Hunter Smith was lights out out of the bullpen. He shut out the GreenJackets in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings striking out three before surrendering the winning run in the tenth. With the GreenJackets still leading 2-1 in the top of the eighth, Luis Cedrola hit a one out single for the Drive. He then stole second, advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt, and came in to score the tying run on a wild pitch to tie the game. "We never panicked," said Valederrama. "We just kept playing hard. There were some quality at bats late in the game. Rivera especially was a great at bat and we ended up winning a great game." The GreenJackets will be back in action Saturday night for game three of their four game series with the Drive. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00pm with the gates opening at 4:30pm. It is Faith and Family Night. Kids ages 12 and under will able to run the bases after the game. There will also be a postgame fireworks show. Caleb Baragar (0-1, 3.21) will start on the mound for the GreenJackets against Michael Shawaryn (1-1, 6.23) for the Drive. The 29th consecutive season of professional baseball in Augusta is underway.
Giants prospect Domenic Mazza of Concord throws perfect game Six-plus years ago, Domenic Mazza landed in Sporting Green headlines for his preternaturally powerful golf swing. He finished second in the World Long Drive Championship at age 16, smacking one qualifying-event drive a staggering 436 yards. This week, Mazza returns for a strikingly different feat: pitching with guile in throwing a perfect game for the Augusta (Ga.) GreenJackets, a Giants Class A affiliate. Mazza, who grew up in Concord and attended Clayton Valley High, spun his gem Tuesday night in Lexington, Ky. He threw 85 pitches, struck out nine batters and watched with relief as right fielder Sandro Fabian made a fabulous diving catch in the eighth inning and a nice running catch in the ninth. Right off the bat, I had some negative thoughts going through my head, Mazza said of the eighthinning line drive. I thought it was going to drop, for sure. That catch gave me a burst of energy and excitement. Mazza used the jolt of adrenaline to carry him through the remaining outs. And when the 27th and final batter lifted a harmless flyball to shallow center field, he had completed the first nine-inning perfect game in South Atlantic League history, a 9-0 win. His teammates mobbed him near the mound, pranced around the infield and drenched him with a tub of Gatorade. Mazza received about 80 congratulatory texts, plus a phone call from Giants general manager Bobby Evans. I m still in a little disbelief, Mazza said 24 hours later. Back home in Concord, Steve and Lorrie Mazza were surprisingly calm. They purchased the MiLB app to watch Domenic s games, so they hooked up their ipad to the television and sat on the couch, riveted, as their son unleashed a string of zeros. When (Fabian) made that diving catch, Steve Mazza said, I said to myself, Something special is happening here. And it unfolded from there. It s unbelievable. Domenic Mazza, now 22, leaned on power to make a splash in golf circles. But he s not at all a power pitcher rather, he s a crafty lefty whose fastball tops out at 86 to 88 mph. He keeps hitters off balance with his slider, curveball and changeup. The Giants selected Mazza in the 22nd round of the 2015 draft after he spent three years at UC Santa Barbara. He went 8-3 with a 3.93 ERA in 14 starts last season at Augusta; he s 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA in four starts this season. That includes his April 6 outing, for which he gained notice with one misplaced pitch. Mazza relinquished a home run to 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, now a New York Mets minor-leaguer.
Tebow s homer, naturally, commanded national attention to the point where Mazza found himself doing numerous interviews, including an appearance on Dan Patrick s radio show. Tuesday night s perfect game offered compelling evidence that Mazza made the right decision in spurning golf for baseball. He juggled both sports at Clayton Valley, often pitching on Tuesdays and skipping games on Thursdays (with the coach s blessing) to play in a golf tournament. Mazza turned down the $70,000 prize he earned in the Long Drive Championship, to retain his amateur status so he could play baseball in college. That was a tough decision, because he wanted to buy a Camaro to drive to school. I knew if I did choose golf, I would never be able to follow my passion with baseball, he said. I wouldn t be like Tebow, where I could get it into at (age) 29. I definitely wanted to follow this passion first and make it as far as I can. Mazza rarely plays golf during baseball season, but he and his dad returned to Diablo Creek several times over the fall and winter. Domenic didn t even bother to use his driver, because he bought a 3- wood, which he used to routinely hit the ball 350 yards. He still crushes it, Steve Mazza said. Once a long hitter, always a long hitter.