CalL1 Inland Empire 66ers

Giants Top 66ers in Series Opener

Published on August 1, 2011 under California League (CalL1)
Inland Empire 66ers News Release


San Bernardino, CA- Ariel Pena effectively rebounded by a rocky first inning, but the damage done in the opening frame was all the San Jose Giants (20-16, 71-35) needed to hand the 66ers (18-17, 50-55) a 6-3 loss in the first game of a three-game set.

San Jose sent nine men to the plate in a four-run first inning highlighted by five straight hits to lead off the ballgame. Ryan Cavan, Jarrett Parker, Jose Flores and Juan Ciriaco drove in solo runs before a half-hour delay for field maintanence issues.

Pena recovered nicely following the delay. Despite walking three in the second, the righty escaped further damage by retiring the next three batters, two on strikeouts. Pena recorded his first five outs via the strikeout and had nine on the evening. His 142 strikeouts for the season top Modesto's Chad Bettis by 10 for the California League lead. Pena departed after five innings, allowing just the four runs in the first, and not allowing a hit the rest of the way.

Kevin Nabors came on in relief of Pena and promptly allowed two runs on three hits in his lone inning of work. Ryan Chaffee continued to pitch well out of the bullpen, tossing two scoreless innings. Eric Cendejas followed with a perfect ninth.

The 66ers manufactured their first run of the ballgame in the second inning. After Eric Oliver was hit by a pitch by, a single and a fielder's choice moved him over to third and Steven Irvine's sacrifice fly to right field cashed him in. Inland Empire put together a rally in the eighth by virtue of a sac fly by Dillon Baird and an RBI single by Carlos Ramirez, but Jose Valdez retired Steven Irvine on strikes to end the threat.

Down 1-0 in the series, Inland Empire will look to get even Monday behind Max Russell (0-0, 0.00). The left-hander will make his California League debut opposite Craig Westcott (11-3, 3.36). Coverage begins with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians pregame show with Sam Farber at 6:55 p.m. on AM 1050 KCAA or online at 66ers.com.

For more information on 66ers tickets or to schedule your next fun filled group outing, contact the 66ers front office at (909) 888-9922.

Check out the Inland Empire 66ers Statistics

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California League Stories from August 1, 2011


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