CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants Unable to Complete Sweep of 66ers

Published on August 2, 2011 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN BERNARDINO - Four Inland Empire pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout as the 66ers avoided a sweep with a 4-0 victory over the San Jose Giants on Tuesday afternoon at Arrowhead Credit Union Park. The Giants were blanked for only the third time this season, but still managed to win two out of three games in the series. The loss dropped San Jose's overall record to 72-36.

Inland Empire starting pitcher Matt Oye (6-3) limited the Giants to three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings to pick-up the win. Oye walked one and struck out two before three relievers preserved the shutout.

Tommy Joseph (2-for-4) singled twice and was the only San Jose player to finish with a multi-hit game.

The 66ers jumped out to the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning against Giants starter Andy Reichard. With one out, Dwayne Bailey and Kole Calhoun both singled to put runners on the corners before Casey Haerther delivered an RBI single up the middle to make it 1-0. Reichard did the limit the damage by inducing the next hitter, Dillon Baird, to bounce into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.

Reichard had retired five straight Inland Empire batters until Matt Long stepped to the plate with one out in the bottom of the third and blasted a solo home run to deep right field. The homer was Long's 15th of the season and it extended the 66ers lead to 2-0.

Reichard set down seven in a row after the home run as he pitched around a two-out walk in the bottom of the fifth inning. However in the sixth, Bailey led off with a line drive home run to left for a 3-0 advantage. The home run was Bailey's first of the year.

Reichard (6-2) suffered the loss for San Jose after he allowed three runs (all earned) on five hits over six innings of work. Reichard walked one and struck out one. He surrendered just two hits after the first inning, however both were solo home runs.

The Giants managed only two hits in the first five innings against Oye, but threatened in the top of the sixth. Trailing by two runs, Juan Ciriaco led off with an infield single before stealing second with two outs. After Ryan Cavan walked, John Wiedenbauer was summoned from the bullpen and he promptly uncorked a wild pitch to move the runners to second and third. However, San Jose was unable to capitalize as Jarrett Parker struck out swinging to strand the potential tying runs in scoring position.

In the top of the seventh, Alex Burg doubled with two outs, but Nick Liles flied out to right ending the inning. The Giants were then set down 1-2-3 in the eighth.

Michael Main (1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) relieved Reichard to begin the bottom of the seventh and retired the first four batters that he faced. But in the eighth, consecutive one-out singles from Long and Bailey was followed by back-to-back walks to Calhoun and Haerther to push across a run and make it 4-0. Jose Valdez (2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) was then brought into pitch and he got out of the inning when Baird lined into a double play to first base.

San Jose was unable to avoid the shutout in the top of the ninth as Joseph singled with two outs, but Luke Anders grounded out to end the game.

Notes: Tuesday was the final meeting of the year between the Giants and 66ers with the teams splitting 10 games ... San Jose suffered their first loss in a day game this season (16-1) ... Inland Empire out-hit the Giants by a 7-5 margin ... San Jose was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position ... The Giants were last shutout on June 1 (vs. Visalia) ... Gary Brown (0-for-4) saw his hitting streak end at 13 games ... Joseph returned to the lineup after missing the previous four games ... The shutout was the 66ers' first at home this season ... The 11:00 AM first pitch was the earliest start time of the season for San Jose ... The Giants added infielder Nick Noonan to their roster from Triple-A Fresno after the game.

On Deck: The Giants continue their road trip on Wednesday evening with the opener of a four-game series against the High Desert Mavericks. First pitch at Stater Bros. Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Tom Vessella (3-0, 2.14 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while High Desert is expected to counter with Jandy Sena (1-2, 5.96 ERA). The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

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California League Stories from August 2, 2011


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