Feb. 28, 2004
Updated Season Stats
Stanford Baseball Tickets
Berkeley, Calif. - No. 1 Stanford (12-2) won its 12th straight game against California (7-8) and assured its fifth consecutive series victory over the Golden Bears with a 10-3 victory in the second game of a three-game non-conference set played before a nearly full Evans Diamond crowd of 1054 spectators on Saturday. The victory also gave the Cardinal its ninth straight series victory overall and its 17th series win in its last 18 efforts dating back to last season. Stanford, who has won 18 of its last 19 road games, will look for its third sweep of the season and its fifth during its current series win streak when the teams conclude their series Sunday (1 pm).
Danny Putnam (3-5, HR, 2 RBI) led Stanford's 11-hit attack with his third three-hit game of the season, while Jed Lowrie (2-3, 2B, 3 RBI, SB) drove in three runs and now has seven RBI in the first two games of the series. Jonny Ash (2-5) added a pair of hits, while Sam Fuld scored a season-high three runs and Brian Hall drove in a pair of runs.
Lowrie extended his hit streak to a new career-high 10 games and raised his team-high batting average to .469, while Ash ran his hit streak to nine contests and is second on the club with a .365 mark. In addition, Ash continued his torrid hitting versus California during his career as he raised his all-time mark against the Golden Bears to .475 (19-40).
"I have no explanation for it whatsoever," said Ash of his success against California, the school his father, Wil, played for from as a catcher from 1971-74.
"He's done pretty well versus a lot of teams," added Marquess.
Jeff Gilmore (3-1) scattered six hits and allowed just three runs over a career-high-tying 7.0 innings to earn the victory, striking out two and not walking a batter. Gilmore had perfect 1-2-3 innings in the first, second and fourth frames, while Stanford's only double play of the game helped him face just three batters in the sixth. Gilmore took over the team lead in innings pitched (28.2) with his effort.
"I tried to induce a lot of ground balls, and I was able to do that, especially at the beginning of the game," said Gilmore, who retired nine outs via the ground. "It also makes it easier when we put up four runs early in the game like we did today. I have some of the best support in the country, both offensively and defensively."
"He's had some good starts for us so far this season and this was a typical outing for him," explained Stanford head coach Mark Marquess. "He changes speeds well and has three or four good pitches that he can throw for strikes with a lot of movement on the ball."
Jeff Stimpson made a successful collegiate debut by pitching the final 2.0 innings in hitless fashion with two strikeouts.
California starter Adam Gold (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season. Gold, who pitched a one-hitter in his most recent outing at Fresno State on February 28, allowed six runs (two earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts over the first 6.0 innings.
Jeff Dragicevich (2-3, 2 2B) doubled twice and was the only player with more than one hit for the Golden Bears, while Garrett Bussiere homered. David Nicholson had his 18-game hit streak snapped by going 0-for-3.
Stanford broke an early 0-0 tie by scoring four times after Gold retired the first two batters in the top of the third. Fuld started the two-out rally with a double and moved to third on a passed ball by Bussiere. Ash then laid down a well-placed bunt that Bussiere came out from behind the plate to field but threw away on a close play at first base to extend the inning. Lowrie doubled to score Ash and Putnam followed with a two-run homer just inside the left field foul pole.
California got one run back in the bottom of the third on Bussiere's solo homer to left field.
Stanford came back with a run in the top of the fifth to extend its lead to 5-1. Fuld started the rally again by drawing a leadoff walk before moving to second on a wild pitch and third on an infield single by Ash before scoring on the first of Lowrie's two sacrifice flies.
California cut the Cardinal lead to 5-3 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Holder singled with one out before Bussiere was hit by a pitch and Dragicevich doubled to plate Holder with the first Golden Bear run of the frame before a deep sacrifice fly to center field from David Weiner brought home Bussiere.
Stanford scored a run in the sixth when Brian Hall was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a ground out by Donny Lucy and third on an infield single from Adam Sorgi before scoring on Fuld's sacrifice fly.
The Cardinal broke the game open with three runs in the top of the seventh. Lowrie led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a balk and third on an infield single by Putnam. John Mayberry, Jr. then hit a potential double play that Golden Bear shortstop Allen Craig couldn't field to allow Lowrie to score. Jim Rapoport moved Putnam to third and Mayberry to second with a sacrifice bunt before Hall came through with a clutch two-out, two-RBI double to plate both runners.
Stanford made the final score 10-3 with a run in the top of the eighth. Sorgi walked to lead off the inning but was forced out at second base on Fuld's fielders choice. Ash then came up with a single to move Fuld to third before Lowrie scored Fuld with his second sacrifice fly of the contest.
Stanford left seven runners on base, while the Golden Bears stranded five.
Stanford recorded its second straight errorless game and its eighth of the season, while California committed three miscues that allowed five Stanford runs.
"The way we have played defensive this season has really made me happy," said Marquess. "If you don't walk many guys and play good defense, you usually have a chance to be in the game."
After today's contest, Fuld is now among Stanford's all-time leader in runs scored (227, #3), hits (302, #4), triples (15, #4), doubles (56, #7T) and at bats (872, #8).
The Cardinal has won by or more runs in 11 of its 12 victories this season, while its double-digit hit effort was its 10th of the season.
California lost its fourth game in a row after opening the campaign with a 7-4 mark.
Stanford is scheduled to play 13 of its next 16 games on the road and does not return to Sunken Diamond until hosting Cal Poly for a three-game set from March 26-28 (6 pm, 1 pm, 1 pm, PT). Tickets are available for all 2004 regular season Stanford Baseball home games online at gostanford.com or by calling 1-800-STANFORD.