Two likely pieces of the San Francisco Giants
’ future were on display at Single-A affiliate San Jose’s home
opener at Municipal Stadium on Friday night.
Two likely pieces of the San Francisco Giants’ future were on display at Single-A affiliate San Jose’s home opener at Municipal Stadium on Friday night.
And, if that game was any indication, the big club’s future will be bright enough.
San Francisco’s two first-round draft picks in 2002, pitcher Matt Cain and outfielder Fred Lewis, both showed the outstanding potential that led the Giants organization to use top draft picks to land the talented youngsters.
Cain started Friday’s game and rolled through the Visalia lineup, piling up 12 strikeouts while allowing just two hits and a walk in six strong innings. Cain left Friday’s game with a 3-0 lead.
Meanwhile, the speedy Lewis had three hits including a line-drive double to the centerfield wall that he tried to stretch into a triple but was thrown out.
But the pair’s heroics couldn’t guarantee the Giants (7-4) a win as the Oaks came back to tie the game at 3-3 late.
However, Giants team-mate Dan Trumble knocked in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to help San Jose win its home opener 4-3.
Despite dropping the second game of the three-game series 4-1 on Saturday, San Jose came back to rout Visalia 9-3 in the series finale on Sunday.
Giants first baseman Julian Benavidez, a returning player from last season for San Jose who has shown early promise this season, led a powerful offensive attack with a 2-for-4 performance that included his fourth double of the season and 4 RBIs.
San Jose pounded out a total of 15 hits while scoring a run or more in five different innings.
Giants designated hitter Brad Vericker also contributed to the offensive eruption by reaching base in all five of his plate appearances. Vericker connected for a pair of singles and a double while scoring three of the teams runs.
San Jose was scheduled to continue its seven-game homestand with a four-game series against the Modesto A’s on Monday night at Municipal Stadium.
The Giants and A’s will also hook up on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.
All four games are scheduled for 7 p.m. starts.
