Giants Cruise Past 66ers to Take Series
Published on June 14, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
SAN BERNARDINO - Justin Schumer allowed just one run over eight innings and Ydwin Villegas collected three RBI's in San Jose's 7-1 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers on Wednesday evening at San Manuel Stadium. The Giants won two out of three games in the series and earned back-to-back victories for the first time since May 24-26. San Jose (36-31) also closed to within three games of the Bakersfield Blaze (39-28) in the North Division with three games remaining in the first half.
Schumer (4-3) surrendered just four hits during his stint on the mound while achieving a new career-high in innings pitched. The right- hander walked one and struck out four. At one point during the outing, Schumer retired 15 consecutive Inland Empire hitters.
Villegas (3-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI) had three hits, including his first RBI's of the season, to lead the Giants offensive attack. Ryan Lollis (2-for-5) also contributed a pair of singles while Andrew Susac (1- for-5, 2 RBI) hit a key two-run double.
The game was scoreless until San Jose batted around in the top of the third inning plating four runs. Lollis started the frame with a single before consecutive one-out walks to Adam Duvall and Ricky Oropesa loaded the bases. Susac was up next and he belted a double to the fence in deep left center field scoring two runs. Alex Burg then draw a walk to load the bases again and after Devin Harris flied out, Villegas blooped a single into shallow right center field scoring two more runs for a 4-0 advantage.
The Giants added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning as back- to-back one-out walks to Burg and Harris began the rally. Villegas then singled sharply up the middle to score Burg to make it 5-0. On the play, Harris was thrown out at third with Villegas moving to second. Villegas then advanced to third on a balk before scoring when the next batter, Chris Lofton, reached on an error.
Schumer used double plays to end the first two innings before not allowing another baserunner until the seventh. In the bottom of the first, Travis Witherspoon singled to leadoff, but was erased when Bobby Wilson grounded into an inning-ending double play. An inning later, C.J. Cron drew a leadoff walk before Taylor Lindsey singled with one out. Schumer though induced the next hitter, Randal Grichuk, to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Schumer then retired the 66ers 1-2-3 in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Cron's two-out single in the bottom of the seventh was Inland Empire's first baserunner since Lindsey's hit in the second.
San Jose scored their seventh and final run of the contest in the top of the eighth inning as Villegas led off with a double down the left field line, advanced to third when Lollis reached on an error and scored on Joe Panik's sacrifice fly.
The 66ers finally broke through against Schumer in the bottom of the eighth inning when Grichuk connected for a one-out solo homer to left center. Schumer though quickly set down the next two batters to finish the inning.
Jose Valdez (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth out of the bullpen for the Giants to seal the victory.
Inland Empire starting pitcher Ryan Crowley (1-5) suffered the loss after yielding five runs (all earned) on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked a season-high six and struck out three.
Notes: The Giants won their first series since they swept Bakersfield from May 24-26 ... San Jose had lost their last five series' ... The Giants outscored Inland Empire 21-3 over the last two games ... Lollis finished the series with nine hits in 17 at-bats ... Schumer recorded his first win since May 5 - also against Inland Empire ... Villegas entered the game just 3-for-20 (.150) this season ... The 66ers had only one at-bat with a runner in scoring position ... Inland Empire hit into three double plays ... San Jose's win combined with Bakersfield's 9-6 loss at Stockton on Wednesday kept the Giants alive in the first half North Division race.
On Deck: The Giants return home on Thursday evening to begin a three- game series against the Modesto Nuts at Municipal Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Danny Sandbrink (2-0, 3.00 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Modesto is expected to counter with Tyler Matzek (4-3, 2.87 ERA). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting sjgiants.com.
California League Stories from June 14, 2012
- First-Place Quakes Teaming up with Smile Generation - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Host Modesto to Conclude First Half - San Jose Giants
- Storm Fall Back One, Travel to Face Bakersfield - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Joc Knocks JetHawks to Back of Title Race - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Cruise Past 66ers to Take Series - San Jose Giants
- Bakersfield Blows 6-Run Lead, Misses Chance to Clinch - Bakersfield Blaze
- Quakes Back Alone in First - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- 66ers Downed 7-1 in Final 1st Half Home Game - Inland Empire 66ers
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