Giants, Blaze Meet In North Mini Series
North Mini Series (best-of-three)
* Game 1 (in San Jose): Wednesday, September 7, 7:00 PM
* Game 2 (in Bakersfield): Thursday, September 8, 7:15 PM
* Game 3 (in Bakersfield): Friday, September 9, 7:15 PM (if necessary)
Records
Bakersfield: 76–64
San Jose: 68–72
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1
Bakersfield — Osmer Morales (5–6, 3.69)
San Jose — Jordan Johnson (8–9, 5.33)
Game 2
Bakersfield — Zack Littell (8–1, 2.51)
San Jose — Cory Taylor (1–1, 6.75)
Game 3
Bakersfield — Tyler Pike (6–5, 4.01)
San Jose — Jake McCasland (0–0, — -)
Broadcast Information
The entire series can be heard live on sjgiants.com with Joe Ritzo calling all of the action. Radio broadcasts begin 30 minutes prior to first pitch with The Giants Pregame Show. Every postseason game will be aired on the club’s official website and the San Jose Giants Mobile App. Additionally, every home playoff game is streamed live and available on demand through MiLB.TV.
Giants Host Bakersfield In Game 1 Of North Mini Series Tonight
The San Jose Giants begin the postseason this evening with Game 1 of the best-of-three North Mini Series against the Bakersfield Blaze at Municipal Stadium. Jordan Johnson is slated to make the start on the mound for San Jose tonight. Johnson led the Giants pitching staff and ranked tied for tenth in the California League with 111 strikeouts during the regular season. San Jose’s Pitcher of the Year, Johnson had a 3.81 ERA in five August starts. The right-hander was originally a 23rd round selection of the San Francisco Giants in the 2014 draft out of Cal State Northridge. He’s 1–1 with a 4.64 ERA in four starts against Bakersfield this season.
Playoff Schedule
Following this evening’s postseason opener, the series shifts to Bakersfield for Games 2 and 3 on Thursday and Friday (if necessary). The Mini Series winner advances to play the first half champion Visalia Rawhide in the best-of-five North Division Series beginning on Saturday. The California League Championship Series begins on Thursday, September 15.
Regular Season Review
The Giants finished the regular season with a 68–72 record and qualified for the playoffs as the wild card team in the North Division (eight games ahead of both Modesto and Stockton). San Jose saw their league-record streak of consecutive winning seasons snapped at 12 (2004–2015). The Giants went 39–31 in the first half before posting a 29–41 second half record.
Championship History
The Giants are in the postseason for the 12th time in the last 13 years. San Jose reached the playoffs in a league-record 10 consecutive seasons from 2004–2013 before the streak was snapped in 2014. This year marks the second straight season that the Giants have qualified for the playoffs. Over their 29-year history, the San Jose Giants have won six championships (1998, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010) and 11 division titles (most recent: 2015). Last year, the Giants reached the Championship Series after knocking off Stockton and Visalia in the Mini Series and Division Series respectively. San Jose was a perfect 5–0 in elimination games during the first two rounds of last year’s postseason. The Giants were then swept three-games-to-none by the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the Championship Series.
Versus The Blaze
San Jose was 12–14 against Bakersfield during the regular season. The Giants were just 3–10 versus the Blaze in games played at Municipal Stadium compared to a 9–4 mark at Sam Lynn Ballpark. The road team won 19 out of the 26 games (73 percent) in the season series. San Jose averaged 6.2 runs per contest and hit 22 home runs in 13 games at Sam Lynn Ballpark, but scored just 3.1 runs per game versus Bakersfield at Municipal Stadium. The Blaze won the last five meetings played between the teams during the regular season.
Late-Season Woes
The Giants finished the regular season on a three-game losing streak and with 10 losses in their last 12 games overall. San Jose’s defeat in the regular season finale dropped the club to a season-high four games below .500 for the year. The Giants lost their last five series’ of the regular season (4–12 record).
Sub-.500 Champions
The Giants are looking to join the 2013 Inland Empire 66ers (69–71) and 2011 Lake Elsinore Storm (69–71) as recent sub-.500 California League champions.
At The Plate
San Jose finished the regular season seventh in the California League in batting average (.259) and runs scored (4.5 per game). The Giants’ 126 home runs this year ranked fourth in the league and led all North Division teams. It was also tied for the third-most home runs in San Jose Giants history (126 HR in 1999; record is 143 HR in 2005). Outfielder Dylan Davis (18) and first baseman Jonah Arenado (17) were San Jose’s top individual home runs hitters this year. The Giants hit 70 home runs from July 1 through the end of the regular season (63 games). San Jose struggled offensively late in the year batting just .213 as a team over their final 10 games.
On The Mound
The Giants’ 4.60 team ERA during the regular season was eighth in the league and the third-worst mark in the 29-year history of the club (5.03 in 2000, 4.68 in 2003). San Jose’s 5.54 ERA since the beginning of July is last in the league (3.84 ERA from April-June). The Giants set a team record this year for most home runs allowed in a season (133). Reyes Moronta ranked tied for third in the league in saves (14) and first in appearances (60). Moronta struck out 93 batters in 59 innings this season.
Roster Moves
The Giants made a flurry of roster moves prior to tonight’s playoff opener adding starting pitcher Jake McCasland (8–5, 1.65 ERA) and relief pitcher Ryan Halstead (4–3, 3.83 ERA, 4 SV) from Augusta. McCasland is scheduled to start Game 3 of the Mini Series. Outfielder Bryan Reynolds, San Francisco’s top draft pick this year (second round selection) has also joined San Jose from Augusta. Reynolds hit a combined .313 between Augusta and Salem-Keizer (Short-Season) this year with six home runs and 38 RBI’s over 60 games (.847 OPS). Reynolds is currently rated the #4 prospect in the San Francisco Giants organization according to MLB.com. Outfielder Heath Quinn (MLB.com #19 SF Giants prospect) and pitchers Caleb Baragar, Alex Bostic and Wilson Santos joined San Jose during the final week of the regular season.
Opponent Notes: Bakersfield Blaze
The Bakersfield Blaze, an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, won the second half North Division title with a 39–31 record. Bakersfield spent the entire second half in first place in the division. The Blaze ranked second in the league during the regular season in ERA (3.95) and fourth in runs scored (5.4 per game). Bakersfield had a league-best 43–27 road record this year (33–37 at home). Individually, first baseman Kyle Petty was second in the league in batting average (.329) while outfielder Chantz Mack was second in RBI’s (89). Game 1 starter Osmer Morales fashioned a 2.11 ERA over his final eight starts of the regular season. Game 2 starter Zack Littell allowed no runs in five out of his 11 starts with the Blaze while Game 3 starter Tyler Pike ranked second in the California League with 134 strikeouts.
