San Jose, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino scored four in the top of the first and three in top of the ninth innings but mustered just one in between as the San Jose Giants downed the Sixers 10-8. The loss evened the series at a game apiece
San Jose, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino scored four in the top of the first and three in top of the ninth innings but mustered just one in between as the San Jose Giants downed the Sixers 10-8. The loss evened the series at a game apiece and marked the 66ers first loss at San Jose Municipal Stadium after taking the first five meetings in the Giants home park this year.
Inland Empire (52-60, 22-20) got to San Francisco Giants closer Mark Melancon (on rehab assignment) in the first as Jahmai Jones singled and scored on Jordan Zimmerman's double. Jack Kruger notched a sac fly for a 2-0 lead. Michael Barash then took Melancon deep to left for a two-run homer, his eighth, and a 4-0 advantage. The Giants bounced right back in the bottom of the frame against Sixers starter Austin Robichaux (4-8) as with one out Ryan Howard and Bryan Reynolds singled and Jonah Arenado smacked a triple off the wall in center making it 4-2. Jones was shaken up on the play crashing into the wall for the Sixers and left the game. Arenado came home on a ground out making it 4-3. The Giants (50-62, 20-22) took a 5-4 lead in the third with two on Arenado had an RBI infield hit and another run came home on a throwing error by Sixers shortstop Connor Justus. Leading 6-4 Arenado doubled to lead off the fifth and scored on Dillon Dobson's RBI single making it 7-4. The Sixers got a run in seventh when Brandon Sandoval singled and got to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball then came home on a Jack Kruger RBI grounder making it 7-5. The Giants got three big runs for a 10-5 lead in the eighth when Matt Winn homered, Ronnie Jebavy tripled Jalen Miller doubled in a run and Ryan Howard's RBI singled (his fourth of the game) capped the inning. The Sixers got those runs back courtesy of an RBI double by Zimmerman, a fielding error and a RBI single by Jared Walsh. With the score 10-8 and Barash at the plate as the potential tying run, Giants closer Dylan Rheault coaxed a pop out to end the game and earn his league-best 18th save.
The series continues Saturday at 6:00 pm. The contest can be heard live on 66ers.com.
