Bailey homers twice in 3-hit performance

If there is such thing as a perfect bookend, Patrick Bailey experienced it on Wednesday.

San Francisco's No. 8 prospect homered twice, including the go-ahead shot in the seventh inning, and finished with three hits as Low-A San Jose rallied past Fresno, 4-2, at Chukchansi Park.

The victory gave the Giants a commanding 2-0 lead in the Low-A West Championship Series.

"Off the bat, I didn't know if it was going to go, but I knew I hit it well," Bailey said of his go-ahead homer. "When I realized it was going to go, it set off a wave of excitement for me. It was a terrific moment and experience I was able to share with my team. But when it was over, I was focused on closing out the game and getting us to the finish line."

After opening the scoring in the second with a solo homer to right field, Bailey came to bat in the seventh with the game tied, 2-2, following Jimmy Glowenke's equalizing long ball leading off the frame. Five pitches later, the 22-year-old launched his second solo jack of the game to give San Jose a lead it would not relinquish.

"I wasn't trying to do anything out of the ordinary," Bailey said of his seventh-inning home run. "I always try and stick with my approach no matter what the situation is, and that was the case there. We got a huge homer from [Glowenke] to tie the game, so I was able to relax a bit when I got up there."

Last year's 13th overall Draft pick batted .265/.366/.429 with 36 extra-base hits and 39 RBIs in his first taste of professional baseball. He began the year with High-A Eugene and homered in his first game, but struggles led to an assignment to San Jose where the North Carolina native found his footing, batting .322 with a .946 OPS in 47 games.

"Last year was definitely crazy, but it's been great to get back out there this season," Bailey said. "The sport really beats you up, but I think I've done a good job of sticking with it and learning from my experiences. It's preparing me for what's to come at each new level."

Giants No. 25 prospect Carson Ragsdale tossed four scoreless innings before stumbling in the fifth when he allowed two runs. The 23-year-old completed six frames and was charged with two runs on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

Rockies 23rd-ranked prospect Warming Bernabel hit a sacrifice fly and Bladimir Restituyo had an RBI single for the Grizzlies.