66ers Finish First Half with Win Over Giants

San Jose, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers got strong starting pitching from Sean Newcomb and four RBI from Angel Rosa in an 8-4 win over the San Jose Giants at Municipal Stadium on Sunday. The Father's Day win earned the Sixers a split of the four-game series and snapped a two-game skid.

The 66ers got to San Jose's All-Star starter Chase Johnson (3-3) in the first inning. Ruben Sosa opened the game with an infield single which was followed by Bo Way's single to left. Eric Aguilera was then hit by a pitch. Angel Rosa came to the plate with bases loaded and no outs and rocketed a ball down the right field line. Rosa was credited with a three-run double to make it 3-0 before an out was recorded.

Kody Eaves added to Inland Empire's lead in the third when he tagged reliever Luis Ysla's 0-2 pitch out to left center field to give the SIxers a 4-0 lead. It was the Pasadena, TX native's fifth homer of the season. Inland Empire added two more in the top of the sixth with Sosa highlighting the frame with a RBI single.

Sean Newcomb was dominant in his five innings for Inland Empire. The University of Hartford (CT) product allowed just three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts on the day. He struck out the side in order in the third and improved to 3-0 on the season.

San Jose (30-40) made the game interesting in the seventh with IE up 6-0. The Giants scored four times to make it 6-4 before Inland Empire (34-35) Inland Empire handed the ball to its All-Star reliever Michael Smith. Smith fanned the potential tying run the plate in the person of Ryder Jones to end the frame. The 66ers scored twice in the top of the eight when Sosa scored on a RBI grounder by Way and Rosa drilled an RBI single for his fourth RBI of the afternoon. Smith sat the Giants down in order in the eighth and Brian Loconsole worked out of jam for a scoreless ninth.

The 66ers took nine walks in the game matching a season high. Inland Empire will host Stockton on Thusday the 25th at 7:05 pm. The game can be heard live at 66ers.com.