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San Jose - Tim Alderson fired seven dominant innings with just one run allowed to lead the San Jose Giants to a 5-1 victory over the High Desert Mavericks on Saturday night in front of 3,460 fans at Municipal Stadium.  Alderson, who at one point retired 13 consecutive High Desert hitters, surrendered just four hits with no walks and five strikeouts during his stint on the mound.  With the victory, San Jose improves their overall record to 80-52.
 
The Giants’ win combined with Stockton’s (70-61) loss in Visalia on Saturday clinched the top overall record in the North Division for San Jose.  The Giants have now secured home field advantage in the North Division Series (hosting a potential Game Five) by virtue of finishing with the best record.

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Alderson (12-4) tied Jesse English for the team lead in victories with Saturday’s performance.  The right-hander surrendered a run in the top of the second inning before setting down 16 of the final 17 batters he faced.  Taylor Wilding (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO) retired all six hitters he faced out of the bullpen to seal the Giants victory.  The two San Jose hurlers combined to retire nine straight High Desert batters to finish the contest.
 
Brad Boyer (2-for-3, 2B, RBI), Sharlon Schoop (2-for-3, 2B) and Tyler Graham (2-for-3, RBI) each produced multiple-hit games at the plate for the Giants.  San Jose out-hit High Desert by a 10-4 margin.
 
With the game tied 1-1, the Giants used a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead for good.  Facing Mavericks relief pitcher Bryan Harris, Schoop led off the frame by drawing a walk.  After Tyler LaTorre flied out, Graham blooped a single down the right field line advancing Schoop to second base.  Darren Ford followed by drawing a full-count walk, but the Mavericks then managed to force out Schoop at home plate when Mike McBryde grounded a ball back to the mound.  Boyer was up next and he was promptly hit by a pitch delivered by Harris to force home Graham with the go-ahead tally.  Matt Downs then lined a single into right field plating Ford and McBryde for a 4-1 San Jose advantage.
 
The Giants added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Bobby Felmy led off with a single, stole second base and scored on Graham’s two-out infield single.
 
After San Jose plated a run in the bottom of the first inning on Brett Pill’s sacrifice fly, the Mavericks tied the score with a single run in the top of the second.  With two outs, Kevin Reynolds singled before Fernando Encarnacion lined a ball into left center field for a single.  Reynolds, was attempting to steal second base on the pitch, raced around third with the tying run.
 
High Desert though would have only one more hitter reach base safely for the remainder of the night – a leadoff single from Chris Minaker off of Alderson in the top of the seventh inning.

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