Big Innings Doom Giants in 12-8 Defeat
Published on June 12, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN BERNARDINO - The Inland Empire 66ers built an 11-run lead before holding off a late San Jose rally to earn a 12-8 victory over the Giants on Monday evening at San Manuel Stadium. Inland Empire scored 11 runs over the fifth and sixth innings to take a commanding a 12-1 lead en route to claming the series opener. San Jose lost for the 14th time in their last 16 games while their overall record dropped to 34-31.
Ryan Lollis (3-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI) had three hits and drove home a pair of runs while Ricky Oropesa (2-for-4, 3 RBI) collected three RBI's to lead the Giants offensively. Joe Panik (2-for-6, 2B), Dan Burkhart (2- for-5, RBI) and Bobby Haney (2-for-5, 2B) also finished with two hits apiece. San Jose out-hit Inland Empire by a 15-13 margin.
The 66ers owned a 1-0 lead after 4 1/2 innings before exploding for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to take control of the game. San Jose pitcher Jack Snodgrass issued consecutive walks to Travis Witherspoon and Rolando Gomez to begin the frame before Brian Hernandez grounded an RBI double down the left field line to make it 2-0. C.J. Cron followed with a double of his own to score two more runs and after Taylor Lindsey walked, Randal Grichuk blasted a three- run home run to deep left center for a 7-0 advantage. The first six batters of the bottom of the fifth all reached base against Snodgrass with all six scoring runs. Snodgrass was removed from the game after yielding the Grichuk homer.
The Giants scored their first run of the contest in the top of the sixth inning as Panik led off with a double before scoring two batters later on Oropesa's single.
Inland Empire though sent 10 hitters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth scoring five more times to extend their lead to 12-1. Reliever Stephen Harrold walked Witherspoon to begin the inning before Gomez delivered an RBI double. After Hernandez grounded out, Cron drove home his fourth run of the game with a single to make it 9-1. Lindsey followed by drawing a walk and then with two outs, Jett Bandy hammered a triple to deep right center field plating two more runs. Two batters later, Jean Almanzar capped the scoring with an RBI single.
San Jose responded with five runs of their own in the top of the seventh inning as they attempted to get back into the game. A one-out single from Chris Lofton before a two-out single off the bat of Panik and then a walk to Duvall loaded the bases. Oropesa then scored two runs with a single to right cutting the deficit to 12-3. Andrew Susac was up next and he singled home Duvall. After Jarrett Parker singled to load the bases, Burkhart came through with the fourth straight two- out single as he scored Oropesa with the fourth run of the inning. Susac then came home on a wild pitch bringing the Giants to within 12-6.
San Jose threatened in the top of the eighth as two walks and a fielder's choice loaded the bases with two outs, but Susac's line drive was caught by a leaping Cron at first base to end the inning.
In the ninth, Burkhart singled with one out before Haney reached on an error. Then with two outs, Lollis ripped a double off the fence in right center field plating both runners to make it 12-8. 66ers reliever Eric Cendejas though was able to retire the next batter, Panik, on a fly out to left to finish the game.
Inland Empire starting pitcher Lay Batista (3-5) picked-up the win after limiting the Giants to one run over 5 1/3 innings. He allowed seven hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Dan Runzler started on the mound in his second rehab start with San Jose. Runzler pitched the bottom of the first inning and allowed an unearned run. After retiring the first two batters, Hernandez singled, advanced to second on a passed ball and then scored when Cron bounced a single up the middle. Runzler (0-2), who did not issue a walk or record a strikeout, was saddled with the loss.
Snodgrass relieved Runzler to begin the bottom of the second and worked around four singles over the next three innings to hold the 66ers off the scoreboard and keep the deficit at 1-0. Snodgrass finished his outing with six runs (all earned) and seven hits allowed in three-plus innings of work. He walked three and struck out one.
The Giants knocked out five hits over the first five innings against Batista, but were unable to score leaving four runners on base and also hitting into one double play.
Notes: Inland Empire batted around in both the fifth and sixth innings as they combined for 11 runs on seven hits ... Giants pitchers also issued seven walks during the two frames ... Every San Jose starter recorded at least one hit ... Oropesa now has 50 RBI's this season ... In addition to Snodgrass, Harrold (1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO), Mitchell Beacom (1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 SO) and Seth Rosin (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) all pitched out of the Giants bullpen ... San Jose is now 4 1/2 games behind the Bakersfield Blaze (38-26) in the first half North Division race ... The Giants have only five games remaining in the half.
On Deck: The Giants and 66ers continue their three-game series on Tuesday evening with first pitch at San Manuel Stadium scheduled for 7:05 PM. Taylor Rogers (2-6, 4.85 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Inland Empire is expected to counter with Brian Diemer (0-1, 9.00 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 6:35 PM.
California League Stories from June 12, 2012
- Angels Cather Scheduled with 66ers Wednesday - Inland Empire 66ers
- Bako Splits Doubleheader in Stockton, Drops Magic Number to 1 - Bakersfield Blaze
- San Jose Giants Homestand Preview: June 14-June 16 - San Jose Giants
- Big Innings Doom Giants in 12-8 Defeat - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Alone in First After Ninth-Inning Rally - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- 66ers Match Season High 12 Runs in Win - Inland Empire 66ers
- JetHawks Lost Heartbreaker in Rancho - Lancaster JetHawks
- Blaze Score 4 in Ninth, Come Back to Beat Stockton 6-3 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Storm Fall 7-4, Game Behind Quakes for First - Lake Elsinore Storm
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
