SJ Giants Avoid Sweep

By Staff (Apr 16, 2009 )

By Mark Powell

With the way San Jose Giants catcher Buster Posey has been hitting so far in 2009, manager Andy Skeels might do whatever he can to keep him on his team all season.

“Who wouldn’t?” Skeels said.

Posey went 3-for-3, smacking a tape-measure home run and falling just a triple short of the cycle in San Jose’s 8-6 victory over the Bakersfield Blaze Wednesday night.

“The guy’s been swinging the bat well,” Skeels said. “Not having seen a lot of him before having got here, I’m obviously becoming a big fan. He’s been doing a lot of little things, and he’s had a solid approach since he’s been here.”

The Giants (5-2) dropped the first two games of the series, 4-3 on Monday and 10-6 on Tuesday. They will travel to Stockton for a four-game series starting Thursday night.

“I think it was big,” Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford said. “We needed a win after those two losses.”

San Jose starting pitcher Tim Alderson struck out six batters through four and a third innings, but allowed 10 hits and four runs before being relieved.

After forcing Bakersfield leadoff hitter Engel Beltre to ground out to start the fifth, Alderson allowed a home run to Matthew Lawson, a single to Mitch Moreland, a single to Ian Gac and double to Tim Smith in succession.

“He threw the ball real well first couple innings. I just think he ran out of gas a little bit and elevated a few fastballs,” Skeels said. “And against a team that hits the way these guys do, you’re going to get hurt. It’s early in the season still, so he’s getting his feet underneath him.”

The Giants, who came into the game leading the California League in team batting average, jetted to a quick lead.

With two out and San Jose’s Nick Noonan on second base, Posey hit Bakersfield starting pitcher Michael Main’s 2-2 pitch far beyond the left field fence.

Giants first baseman Angel Villalona lead off the second inning with a double, and advanced to third base on an error by Bakersfield centerfielder Beltre.

Villalona would score on Darren Ford’s infield single to give San Jose as 3-0 lead.

The Giants tacked on four additional runs in the third inning, when Posey started the barrage by singling to left field. Conor Gillaspie then walked, and Roger Kieschnick and Villalona followed with singles. The four of them would cross the plate for the Giants in the inning to give San Jose a 7-0 lead.

The Blaze chipped away at Giants’ lead for the remainder of the game, scoring two runs in the fourth, fifth and ninth innings respectively.

With two outs in the ninth inning, the tying run waited on deck for Bakersfield, but catcher Elio Sarmiento grounded out to end the game.

“I think the measure and the character of good ball teams is knowing you’re going to run into your bumps along the way, but you don’t sustain losing streaks,” Skeels said. “When you stop the streak, that’s always a good thing. You know, you’ve got to get back up on the horse and point it in the right direction again. We did that tonight.”