The San Jose Giants got another strong pitching performance on Thursday night and beat Visalia for the third night in a row, final score 5-2 at Valley Strong Ballpark. Starter Will Bednar went four innings and allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out six. Seth Lonsway (W, 2-0) followed with four hitless innings, allowing just one unearned run while walking two and striking out two. Jose Cruz threw a spotless ninth inning to notch his first save of the year.
The Rawhide got just two hits after getting just one hit off of San Jose pitching the night before.
San Jose pitching over the last two games: 3 hits and 1 earned run allowed in 18 innings. 3 walks & 29 strikeouts.
— Joe Ritzo (@JoeRitzo) April 22, 2022
The Giants got two runs in the first inning with Abdiel Layer knocking in the first run on a groundout, followed by an RBI single from Dilan Rosario. Layer went 2-for-4 on the night with a triple, a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored.
San Jose chased Visalia starter Avery Short (L, 0-2) in the third inning, putting two more on the board to take a 4-0 lead. The Rawhide got a home run from Juan Batista in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 4-1, but they would get no closer.
The Giants scored their final run in the fifth on a sac fly from Rayner Santana to make it 5-1. Visalia countered with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth to end the scoring for both teams at 5-2.
Christian Montes De Oca threw two scoreless innings out of the Visalia bullpen giving up one hit and one walk while striking out five.
Bednar, the San Francisco Giants’ #4 prospect, threw 55 pitches, 40 for strikes. Over 11 2/3 inning this young season, Bednar has walked three with 14 strikeouts and opponents are batting .128.
San Jose holds a 1/2 game lead in the North division with Fresno’s game rained out.
Visalia hosts game four of the series on Friday night at 6:30PM.
SCOREBOARD
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 1
MODESTO – 11
Gameday
Story
STOCKTON – 3
INLAND EMPIRE -4
Box
Story
LAKE ELSINORE
FRESNO
PPD Rain
