ORGANIZATIONAL REPORT Friday, May 5, 2017 TEAM LEVEL RECORD LAST GAME STREAK/ LAST 10 Sacramento River Cats Triple-A 10-17; 7.5 GB 4th Place W, 4-2 @ Fresno W1, 4-6 Richmond Flying Squirrels Double-A 10-14; 4.5 GB 6th Place W, 3-2 Vs. Bowie W1, 4-6 San Jose Giants High-A 12-16; 5.0 GB 4th Place L, 2-8 @ Stockton L2, 3-7 Augusta Greenjackets Low-A 10-17; 7.5 GB 7th Place L, 4-5 @ Kannapolis L5, 4-6
Stratton, River Cats stifle Grizzlies 4-2 Calixte paces offense with team-leading 4th home run of the season The Sacramento River Cats (10-17) rode a strong start by Chris Stratton and a home run by Orlando Calixte to a 4-2 victory against the Fresno Grizzlies (12-16) Thursday evening at Chukchansi Park. Stratton was excellent in his return to the River Cats rotation. The righty went 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and a walk, while striking out six. He took a no decision in this one, however, after throwing just 71 pitches (49 strikes). Shortstop Calixte got the scoring started in the third inning with a two-run homer to left, which was changed from a double after the umpires met to confirm the ball had cleared the fence. Sacramento added a run in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Chris Marrero and Justin Ruggiano, then another on a throwing error in the seventh. Kraig Sitton came on to relieve Stratton, and after giving up a run on two hits in the 5 th inning, the tall lefty retired the final eight hitters he faced. Matt Reynolds threw a clean 8 th, before Ryan Webb nailed things down in the 9 th to earn his 2 nd save. The River Cats go for their second series win behind right-hander Dan Slania (0-3, 9.17). The Grizzlies counter with righty Trent Thornton (0-0, 1.50) as they seek a series split. First pitch is at 7:05 and can be heard live online at rivercats.com and on the air on ESPN 1320. Postgame Notes Calixte: Calixte hit his team-leading 4 th home run of the 3 rd inning, a two-run shot down the left field line to put the River Cats ahead he now leads the team in home runs (4), RBI (18), stolen bases (6), and is second in runs (11) In May the speedy jack-of-alltrades is hitting.333 (6-18) with 7 RBI. Stratton: The River Cats starter was excellent tonight, as he made his first start since the San Francisco Giants optioned him to Sacramento on May 2 Stratton appeared only in relief for the big club, so he threw just 71 pitches as be builds back up to a starters workload The righty's last start came with the River Cats on April 17 in Las Vegas. Bullpen: The Sacramento relievers came up big once again, as Sitton, Reynolds, and Webb combined to throw 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out four. Ruggiano: Acting as the designated hitter on Thursday, Ruggiano went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI was his first three-hit game and just his third multi-hit game with the River Cats in 2017 Sacramento is now 4-0 when Ruggiano is the DH.
Moreno Hits Game-Winner Slightly Before the Stroke of Midnight Rain, Extra Innings and a Walkoff Win RVA- Through rain, more rain and extra innings, the Flying Squirrels (10-14) were finally able to end a long night with a 3-2 victory over Bowie (13-13) in 11 innings on Thursday at The Diamond. The game was delayed 1:55 due to rain and finished up at 11:46 p.m. Richmond infielder Rando Moreno guided a base hit up the middle to plate Carlos Garcia for thewinning run. The two teams will play a double header on Friday with Game 1 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Squirrels were one strike away from ending the game in regulation. With Reyes Moronta on the mound and a runner on second base, Garabez Rosa singled to right field on to tie the game 2-2 and send the contest into extra innings. Moronta was charged with his first blown save of the season, unable to secure the final strike on Rosa. Moreno ended the lengthy night in the 11th with a two-out single into center field. Garcia started the rally with a two-out base hit to right field for his third hit in the game. Jeff Arnold then worked awalk against reliever Garrett Cleavinger, leading to Moreno's game-winner. Cleavinger (0-1) suffered the loss for Bowie. After waiting 1:55 to take the mound, Andrew Suarez wasted no time setting down the Bowie Baysox. Suarez pitched around a flare base hit in the first inning with a pair of strikeouts and added two more K's to end the second inning. The lefty kept Bowie without a run over his first six innings and used 43 pitches through the first three innings. With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom the eighth inning, Bowie reliever Tim Berry quickly retired the first two batters prior to Miguel Gomez lashing a single to center field. Berry then walked Chris Shaw and Dylan Davis to load the bases for Richmond's Ali Castillo. Castillo also drew a walk to bring home a run for a 2-1 lead. Richmond utilized four relievers including the winning pitcher Jose Flores (1-0). Carlos Alvarado tossed a scoreless eighth inning and added a pair of strikeouts to his growing season total of 25. Mornonta tossed the ninth inning in allowing the game-tying run and Tyler Cyr followed with 1 2/3 innings of work. Cyr left with runners on base in the 11th and was replaced by Flores. Flores walked the first man to load the bases and struck out the next batter to keep the game tied Richmond manufactured a 1-0 lead with a run in the first inning against Bowie's Brandon Barker. Hunter Cole worked a one-out walk to get the offense moving for Richmond and advanced to second base on a Miguel Gomez single to left field. After a wild pitch advanced runners to second and third, Chris Shaw brought in the first run of the night via a groundout to shortstop. The two hurlers exchanged zeroes through the middle innings as the rain continued to fall. Richmond could not take advantage of base runners in the third, fourth and fifth
innings. Slade Heathcott blasted a double in the third and Chris Shaw singled to begin the fourth. Carlos Garcia and Rando Moreno both singled in the fifth inning and both were caught trying to steal second base. The Squirrels once again placed a pair of runner on against Barker in the sixth but could not convert. Hunter Cole lofted his 10th double of the season to right field and Chris Shaw worked a two-out walk. Barker then struck out the next hitter Dylan Davis to end the threat and his outing. Barker tossed six innings and allowed just the one run on six his in taking the no-decision. Suarez zipped along as the rain let up in theseventh inning. The lefty set down the first two hitters of the seventh inning and recorded the first two strikes on Jeff Kemp. With one swing, Kemp disrupted the outing for Suarez with a deep home run over the left field wall, tying the game 1-1. Suarez finished off inning and closed out his outing with just the one run allowed. He walked one and yielded four hits in the no-decision. The Squirrels continue an action-packed eightgame, seven-day homestand on Friday with a double header beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday is the Flying Squirrels rescheduled VCU night with VCU basketball seniors JeQuan Lewis, Torey Burston and Doug Brooks throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the start of Game 2. Game 2 will begin approximately 25 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1. RHP Sam Coonrod (0-2, 3.15) is scheduled to start the first contest while LHP Matt Lujan (1-0, 3.60) will be on the hill for the second. Bowie will counter with LHP John Means (1-1, 1.40) and RHP Lucas Long (3-1, 1.80) Giants Drop Series Opener In Stockton, 8-2 San Jose allows a season-high three home runs; Howard extends hit streak to 12 games STOCKTON, CA - The Stockton Ports hit three home runs to build a lead on Thursday night and then broke the game open with a four-run bottom of the eighth on their way to an 8-2 victory over the San Jose Giants at Banner Island Ballpark. The series-opening defeat for the Giants (12-16) was their fifth loss in the last six games. Bryan Reynolds (2-for-4) and Matt Winn (2-for-4) had two hits apiece to lead San Jose offensively in the loss. Ryan Howard (1-for-5) also extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
Oakland A's right-hander Chris Bassitt started on the mound for Stockton as part of a rehabilitation assignment and tossed four scoreless innings. Bassitt surrendered two hits, walked one and struck out four during his 57-pitch outing. The Giants did threaten against Bassitt in the top of the second, but squandered an opportunity to take an early lead. With the game scoreless, Aramis Garcia led off with a double into the left field corner. Dillon Dobson then belted a fly ball that carried to the fence in deep left center. Garcia though was only able to advance to third on the hit. Following a strikeout of Daniel Carbonell and a walk to Jonah Arenado that loaded the bases, Bassitt managed to escape when he induced the next hitter, Matt Winn, to ground into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. Bassitt then finished his outing with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings over the third and fourth frames. Meanwhile, Mike Connolly started for San Jose and began his night with three scoreless innings. Connolly allowed four singles over the first three frames, but stranded all four baserunners. The Ports though used a pair of home runs off of Connolly in the bottom of the fourth to build a 3-0 lead. With one out, Mikey White singled before Chris Iriart stepped to the plate and blasted the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in left center for a two-run homer. Two batters later, Santiago Chavez connected for a solo home run to left for a 3-0 Stockton advantage. The Giants loaded the bases for a second time in the game in the top of the sixth, but again failed to score. Facing reliever Evan Manarino, the rally began with a two-out single from Howard. Reynolds followed with another single before Garcia walked to load the bases. Manarino though recovered to strike out Dobson to end the inning and maintain the 3-0 Ports cushion. Stockton then stretched their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth when Skye Bolt launched a solo home run down the left field against San Jose reliever Connor Kaden. The Giants finally broke through in the top of the seventh scoring twice to cut the Ports advantage in half. With two outs, Winn singled and then immediately scored when the next batter, Johneshwy Fargas, hammered a double into the left field corner. Jalen Miller then laced a single into left plating Fargas to bring San Jose to within 4-2. Manarino, however, prevented further damage when he struck out Howard to end the inning. Still trailing by two runs, the Giants again threatened in the top of the eighth. A leadoff infield single from Reynolds and a two-out single off the bat of Carbonell put the potential tying runs on base and ended Manarino's night. Stockton closer Nolan Blackwood though entered and retired Arenado on a groundout to third to retire the side. The Ports then blew the game open with a four-run bottom of the eighth. Kaden (2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) had retired six straight Stockton hitters until issuing a leadoff walk to Tyler Ramirez to start the eighth. Trent Gilbert followed with a single before Bolt walked to load the bases with none out. Mikey White then grounded a single through the hole on the left side bringing home two runs for a 6-2 Stockton lead. The
rally continued with a one-out walk to Brett Siddall before Josh Vidales stepped to the plate with two down and lined a single into right. The hit scored two more Ports runs extended the lead to 8-2. Blackwood finished the game with a scoreless top of the ninth pitching around a Winn leadoff single. Manarino (2-1) was credited with the win after working 3 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Manarino, who entered Thursday third in the California League in ERA (1.57), allowed seven hits and two runs (both earned) with one walk and three strikeouts. Blackwood collected his third save of the year. Connolly (2-3) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (all earned) in five innings. The right-hander allowed seven hits, walked none and matched a season-high with six strikeouts. Notes * The Giants fell to 5-5 against Stockton this season. The Ports have won the last three games in the season series. * Howard's hitting streak is the third-longest in the California League this year (Modesto's Braden Bishop hit safely in 16 straight games from April 7-24). * Stockton out-hit San Jose 11-10. Eight of the nine Giants starters had at least one hit. * San Jose's three home runs allowed was a season-high. * Bassitt has thrown seven scoreless innings over two rehab starts against the Giants this season. * Pitcher Caleb Simpson was activated from the disabled list and catcher Matt Pare was added to the roster from Extended Spring Training before the game on Thursday. Pitcher Caleb Smith and catcher Connor Sabanosh were placed on the 7- day DL. On Deck The Giants and Ports continue their four-game series on Friday evening with first pitch at Banner Island Ballpark scheduled for 7:10 PM. Heath Slatton (0-2, 18.62 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Dustin Hurlbutt (1-1, 2.84 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:50 PM.