CalL1 San Jose Giants

66ers Cruise Past Giants to Even Series

July 23, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE, CA - The Inland Empire 66ers pounded out 16 hits and scored in seven different innings en route to a 10-3 victory over the Giants on Friday evening in front of 3,960 at Municipal Stadium. The Sixers jumped out to a 6-0 lead after 2 1/2 innings and then cruised to the win to even the series at a game apiece. San Jose (50-48) has now lost nine out of their last 11 games.

Ronnie Jebavy (2-for-5), Robbie Garvey (2-for-5, 2B, RBI) and Daniel Carbonell (2-for-3) had two hits apiece to lead the Giants offensively in defeat.

Inland Empire scored in each of the first five innings against San Jose starter Jordan Johnson. In the top of the first, Michael Hermosillo led off the game with a double down the left field line, moved to third on David Fletcher's sacrifice bunt and scored when Hutton Moyer grounded out.

In the second, four consecutive singles to start the inning from Jared Foster, Taylor Ward, Jeff Boehm and Roberto Baldoquin produced one run. Back-to-back sacrifice flies from Ayendy Perez and Hermosillo then made it 4-0.

The 66ers kept the pressure on with two more runs in the top of the third. With one out, Zach Houchins blasted a solo home run off the left field foul pole. The homer, Houchins' team-leading 11th of the season, pushed the Inland Empire advantage to 5-0. Foster then singled, moved to third on an error and scored when Boehm grounded out for a 6-0 cushion.

The Giants scored twice in the bottom of the third inning to climb within 6-2, but would get no closer in the contest. With one out, Richard Rodriguez and Jebavy both singled. Garvey then smacked a double into the left center field gap to plate Rodriguez with the first San Jose run. Miguel Gomez followed with an RBI groundout as Jebavy scored to make it 6-2.

The Sixers though answered in the top of the fourth as Fletcher connected for a one-out solo home run to left off of Johnson. Then in the fifth, Foster reached second on a dropped fly ball in left and scored two batters later on Boehm's two-out single.

Johnson (6-8) was saddled with the loss after allowing a career-high tying eight runs (six earned) in six innings. The right-hander surrendered 10 hits, walked none and struck out five.

The Giants' final run of the night came in the bottom of the sixth. T.J. Bennett reached on an error to leadoff before Carbonell singled. With one out, Ty Ross drew a walk to load the bases and then Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to left trimming the Inland Empire lead to 8-3.

The 66ers then scored single runs in the seventh and eighth innings against San Jose reliever Jeff Soptic (2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO). In the top of the seventh, Foster doubled with one out, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Ward's single. An inning later, Hermosillo led off with a single, took second on a passed ball and scored to make it 10-3 when Hutton Moyer delivered a two-out single.

Inland Empire starter Alex Klonowski (7-10) picked-up the win after pitching the first five innings with two runs (both earned) and six hits allowed. He walked two and struck out four.

Notes: * Inland Empire out-hit San Jose 16-9. The 66ers have 29 hits over the first two games of the series. * The Giants were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base. * With two hits on Friday, Jebavy raised his July batting average to .333. * Johnson is 1-4 with a 9.68 ERA (33 ER/30.2 IP) over his last six starts. He's surrendered 16 total runs in his last two starts. * San Jose was attempting to win three games in a row for the first time since July 4-6. * Third baseman Jose Vizcaino Jr. (ankle) was placed on the 7-day disabled list before the game on Friday. Pitcher Austin Fleet was also transferred to Sacramento (AAA).

On Deck: The Giants and 66ers continue their four-game series on Saturday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 6:00 PM. Jose Reyes (2-3, 4.58 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Inland Empire is expected to counter with Justin Anderson (4-9, 6.17 ERA). It's a Mix 106.5 Saturday in the Park and a spectacular fireworks show presented by South Bay Piping will follow the game. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435

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California League Stories from July 23, 2016


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