San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Back on the Road to Play Inland Empire
Published on June 11, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
San Jose Giants (34-30) at Inland Empire 66ers (30-34)
At San Manuel Stadium Monday, June 11, 7:05 PM Tuesday, June 12, 7:05 PM Wednesday, June 13, 7:05 PM
Probable Starting Pitching Matchups Monday - Dan Runzler (0-1, 18.00) vs. Lay Batista (2-5, 3.86) Tuesday - Taylor Rogers (2-6, 4.85) vs. Brian Diemer (0-1, 9.00) Wednesday - Justin Schumer (3-3, 5.06) vs. Ryan Crowley (1-4, 6.81)
Giants Begin Three-Game Series At Inland Empire Tonight... The San Jose Giants begin their final road series of the first half tonight with the opener of a three-game set against the Inland Empire 66ers at San Manuel Stadium. San Jose lost two out of three to the visiting Stockton Ports in their most recent series falling 6-0 on Friday before a 4-3 win on Saturday and then a 5-3 defeat in the rubber game yesterday afternoon. The Giants were held to three hits yesterday with Alex Burg's two-run homer in the fifth inning and Andrew Susac's solo shot in the sixth accounting for all the offense. Stockton's A.J. Kirby-Jones hit a two-out, two-RBI double in the top of the seventh inning against San Jose reliever Chris Wilson to break a 3-3 tie and put the Ports ahead for good. Drew Bowlin was charged with both seventh-inning runs out of the bullpen to take the loss.
Media Coverage... The entire series can be heard live on sjgiants.com with Joe Ritzo calling all of the action. All 140 games this season will be aired on the club's official website.
San Jose Trails Bakersfield By 3 1/2 Games In First Half Race... San Jose (34-30) enters this evening's contest trailing the Bakersfield Blaze (37-26) by 3 1/2 games for the top spot in the first half North Division race. Including tonight, the Giants have six games remaining in the first half (Bakersfield has seven). San Jose has won a California League record seven consecutive first half North Division titles (2005-2011). First half division winners clinch a playoff berth and a first round bye. After sweeping the Blaze in a series that ended on May 26, the Giants owned a season-high 5 1/2 game lead in the standings. San Jose has gone just 2-13 since.
One-Run Success... With Saturday's victory over Stockton, the Giants improved their record this season in one-run games to 14-6. San Jose has the most one-run victories and the highest winning percentage (. 700) in one-run games of any team in the California League.
Oropesa Tied For Fourth In RBI's... First baseman Ricky Oropesa is currently tied for fourth in the California League with 47 RBI's - just two off the league-lead. In his last five games, Oropesa is 9- for-21 (.429) with three home runs and six RBI's. Oropesa became the first San Jose player this season to hit more than one home run in a game when he connected for a pair of round-trippers in last Wednesday's contest at Lancaster. He's collected 33 RBI's over his last 32 games dating back to May 7. Oropesa is in his debut professional season after he was drafted in the third round last year out of USC.
Versus The South Division... The Giants are 11-5 this season versus South Division opponents (compared to 23-25 versus the North). This series marks San Jose's first visit of the year to Inland Empire. In their only previous meeting, the Giants swept a three-game series from the 66ers at Municipal Stadium (May 4-6) earning victories of 10-0, 5-2 and 4-2.
Parker's Offensive Surge... After San Jose's May 15 game against the Modesto Nuts, left fielder Jarrett Parker's season batting average had dropped to .153 thanks to a 4-for-65 slump (.062). In 22 games since, Parker has hit .397 (29-for-73) with six doubles, a triple, one home run and 10 RBI's. Parker is now hitting .257 overall this season while his six home runs are third on the club. He's also stolen a team-high 13 bases this year.
Dan Runzler Scheduled To Make Second Rehab Start This Evening... San Francisco Giants pitcher Dan Runzler is slated to make his second rehab start with San Jose in this evening's game against Inland Empire. Runzler made his first appearance of the season last Friday against Stockton and pitched one inning with two runs and one hit allowed. Runzler is recovering from a left lat muscle injury. In 31 appearances (one start) with San Francisco last year, Runzler was 1-2 with a 6.26 ERA. He struck out 25 and walked 16 over 27 1/3 innings. Runzler made his Major League debut in 2009 and owns a career ERA of 4.06 in 83 games. He pitched with the San Jose Giants earlier in the 2009 campaign and was 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA and five saves in 19 games out of the bullpen.
Panik's Strong Series... Shortstop Joe Panik had a strong series against Stockton going 6-for-11 with a double, a home run and an RBI over the three games. Panik entered the series hitless in his last 21 at- bats. The former first round draft pick is batting .252 this season with two home runs and 27 RBI's. His 16 doubles lead the team and are tied for ninth in the league.
Starting Pitching Struggles... Jack Snodgrass' victory last Wednesday marked the first time since May 16 (Snodgrass vs. Modesto) that a San Jose starting pitcher recorded a win - a stretch of 19 games (a starter has not won a game since). The last Giants starting pitcher other than Snodgrass to pick-up a win was on May 5 (Justin Schumer).
Opponent Notes: Inland Empire 66ers... The Inland Empire 66ers, an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, enter tonight's action in last place in the South Division with a 30-34 record - four games out of the top spot. Inland Empire is tied for third in the league in batting average (.263) and fifth in ERA (4.35). 66ers outfielder Travis Witherspoon is tied for ninth in the league in batting average (.320) and third in stolen bases (24).
California League Stories from June 11, 2012
- Travis Witherspoon California League All Star - Inland Empire 66ers
- Chafin, Holmberg, Gomez, Owings will represent Rawhide at All-Star Game - Visalia Rawhide
- Retherford Named to All-Star Team - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Stockton Ports Infielder Miles Head Selected as Mid-Season All-Star - Stockton Ports
- San Jose Giants Pitcher Jack Snodgrass Named to the 2012 California League All-Star Team - San Jose Giants
- Five Storm Honored as Cal League All-Stars - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Sean Murphy Named California League Pitcher of the Week - Stockton Ports
- 2012 California League All Stars Announced - CalL1
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Back on the Road to Play Inland Empire - San Jose Giants
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