3/29: It was a fine day for baseball at Moody Field in Larkspur. The Novato Hornets were in town for the first game of a 2-game set. Novato entered the game with a 9-3 record overall, and 5-1 in MCAL, so they are a legit ballclub. I figured that the Giants would need at least their B+ game to secure the victory, but as it happened, it was more of a B- game, but still good enough to win.
The Giants got off to a quick start, tagging the Novato starter for 4 quick runs in the bottom of the 1st. But Novato would come back and had the game tight at 5-4 in the top of the fifth. In the end, the Giants escaped with an 8-6 decision. Matty Jessen had a big day at the plate for the Giants, going 2-4 with 3 RBIs. Rex Solle also contributed 2 hits and 2 RBIs.
Rory Minty got the start on the mound for the Giants and his pitching line was decent: four and a third innings, giving up 4 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits, with 5 strikeouts and no walks. However, Minty lost his usual impeccable control in the third when he hit two successive batters and then gave up a single. The bases were loaded with two out and Minty should’ve gotten out of the inning unscathed, but the Giants committed an error in the infield, allowing two runs to score. Both of these runs were unearned.
In the fifth, Minty hit another batter and gave up a double, allowing another Novato run, so Jerry Omara came on in relief. Omara got out of the inning, but not before another run scored. Omara came back out in the sixth, but he couldn’t find the strike zone, walking the first two batters, so the Giants’ skipper brought in Rex Solle. Solle had some difficulty settling in, walking the first three batters he faced, allowing two more Novato runs to score. But Solle was able to right the ship, striking out the last five batters he faced, securing the victory.
The Giants now stand at 11-3 overall, 8-1 in MCAL. The ballclub will travel to Novato on Friday afternoon to complete the series.