CalL San Jose Giants

August Begins with Victory Over 66ers

Published on August 2, 2023 under California League (CalL)
San Jose Giants News Release


The San Jose Giants began the month of August with a 6-3 victory over the South Division-leading Inland Empire 66ers on Tuesday night at San Manuel Stadium. In a continuation of their Southern California road trip, the Giants knocked out 11 hits, matched a season-high with seven stolen bases and never trailed en route to the series-opening triumph. The win snapped San Jose's (54-43 overall, 14-17 second half) three-game losing streak.

Turner Hill (3-for-5, 2B, SB) and Anthony Rodriguez (3-for-4, 2B, SB) had three hits apiece to lead the Giants offensively. The victory improved San Jose's record to an impressive 6-1 against Inland Empire this season.

After three straight losses in Rancho Cucamonga to end the most recent series, the Giants jumped out early on Tuesday and never looked back. Hill started the game with a double to the fence in deep left field. After Alexander Suarez reached safely on an error to put runners on the corners, Diego Velasquez grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to bring home Hill with the first run of the night.

Dylan Cumming started on the mound for San Jose and battled through three scoreless innings to begin his outing. Cumming issued five walks and hit two batters over the first three frames, but allowed only one hit and managed to escape without any runs coming across. The Sixers stranded seven runners on base in the opening three innings.

The Giants then added to their lead with a two-run top of the fourth. Three straight singles from Tanner O'Tremba, Andrew Kachel and Rodriguez to start the inning loaded the bases with none out. A passed ball then brought home O'Tremba before Dilan Rosario hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Cumming returned to the mound in the bottom of the fourth, but was removed from the game after surrendering a one-out triple to Jeremy Arocho. Jorge Garcia was summoned from the bullpen and he promptly balked to allow Arocho to score Inland Empire's first run. Garcia though quickly retired the next two hitters before San Jose got the run right back in the top of the fifth.

Suarez led off the fifth inning with an infield single to shortstop before stealing second and taking third on a Velasquez groundout. Onil Perez then bounced a single up the middle to plate Suarez for a 4-1 advantage.

Garcia needed only nine pitches to set down the 66ers in the bottom of the fifth, but would allow a run in the sixth as Inland Empire pulled within 4-2. With one out, former SJ Giant Ronaldo Flores hit a double to deep right and scored on a Nelson Rada two-out single. Rada though was later picked-off at first by the catcher Perez to end the inning.

The Giants then scored their final two runs of the contest in the top of the seventh. Jose Ramos was hit by a pitch to start the inning before a bunt single from Hill put runners on first and second. The duo then executed a double steal and when the throw to third sailed down the left field line, Ramos raced home with the first run of the inning. Hill later scored on an O'Tremba two-out single to make it 6-2.

Garcia finished his long relief appearance with a scoreless bottom of the seventh working around a one-out walk. Tyler Vogel then struck out two in a perfect eighth inning. In the ninth, Rada singled with one out and scored on Alberto Rios' double to deep right center as the San Jose lead was trimmed to 6-3. However with the potential tying run in the on-deck circle, Vogel recovered to register consecutive strikeouts of Kevin Watson Jr. and Jadiel Sanchez, the #3 and #4 hitters in the Sixers lineup, to end the game.

Garcia (2-0) was credited with the win after limiting Inland Empire to one run over his 3 2/3 innings. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out two. Vogel fanned five over the final two innings (one run allowed). The Giants won despite their pitchers combining for eight walks and two HBP's.

San Jose out-hit the 66ers by an 11-6 margin. O'Tremba (2-for-5, RBI) also had a multi-hit game. The Giants were 7-for-9 in stolen base attempts. It marked the fourth time this season that San Jose stole seven bases in a game (second time on the road trip). Inland Empire was only 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.

Turner Hill is hitting .500 (16-for-32) over his last eight games

The Giants continue their series against Inland Empire on Wednesday evening with first pitch at San Manuel Stadium set for 6:35 PM. Nomar Medina is San Jose's scheduled starting pitcher. The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from August 2, 2023


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