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CalL1 Inland Empire 66ers

Sixers Fall Short In Ninth Against Giants, 7-5

September 2, 2009 - California League (CalL1)
Inland Empire 66ers News Release


SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Inland Empire rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the San Jose Giants capitalized on two inside the park home runs to hold on and win, 7-5, Tuesday evening.

With the score tied at one in the sixth and two outs, Darren Ford hit a short fly ball to center that landed short of a sliding Jovanny Rosario and rolled by him for a triple. Tyler Graham then followed with the first inside the park homer of the night to left-center field for a 3-1 Giants lead. Graham now has two inside the park home runs this season.

San Jose (88-46) added what proved to be four needed insurance runs in the ninth. With Tim Sexton on for his fourth inning of relief following the rehabbing Hiroki Kuroda, Shane Jordan hit a one out double to right and took third on an errant pickoff throw from catcher Jessie Mier. Ford followed with an RBI single to left for his fifth hit of the game. After Graham walked, Nick Noonan hit a soaring drive off the wall in right-center and raced all the way home for an inside the park homer of his own, extending the lead to 7-1.

With Wilmin Rodriguez on to pitch the bottom of the ninth, the first two batters walked before Elian Herrera was hit by a pitch to load the bases with none out for Scott Van Slyke. Van Slyke singled in two, forcing Trey Webb to come on and replace Rodriguez. Andres Perez walked to re-load the bases and Preston Mattingly followed with a run-scoring sac fly to right. Garett Green drove in another run with a fielders choice, but after the first pitch to Christian Lara, Green was picked of at first by the catcher Trent Kline to end the ballgame.

Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda got the rehab start, going 5 inning in which he allowed an unearned run on 5 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts.

Ford's five-for-five night is the most hits by an individual opponent against the 66ers all season.

Clayton Tanner (12-6, 3.05) got the win for San Jose, piggy-backing of Craig Clark's opening two innings. Tanner gave up 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks while fanning 6 over 5 innings.

Webb earned his second save by recording the final three outs of the ninth.

Sexton (8-14, 3.76) yielded 6 runs on 7 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts in 4 innings for the loss.

Inland Empire (57-77) remains three games behind Rancho Cucamonga for the last playoff spot after the Quakes lost to Visalia, 11-2.

The 66ers resume hostilities against the San Jose Giants on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. It will be RHP Justin Miller (0-5, 7.20) opposing LHP Paul Oseguera (5-7, 4.11). Wednesday is the last Bark at the Ballpark, with the Sixers encouraging you to bring your dogs out to the ballyard for some good old-fashioned fun. Tickets are available at www.66ers.com or at the 66ers box office, located at 280 South E Street in San Bernardino. For more information, give the 66ers a call at (909) 888-9922.

Check out the Inland Empire 66ers Statistics



California League Stories from September 2, 2009


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