San Jose, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino allowed three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning in a tie game at San Jose Municipal Stadium on Sunday leading to a 5-3 loss to the San Jose Giants. The win gave the Giants a series victory in
San Jose, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino allowed three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning in a tie game at San Jose Municipal Stadium on Sunday leading to a 5-3 loss to the San Jose Giants. The win gave the Giants a series victory in the four-game set and evened the season series 6-6
The Giants (52-62, 22-22) took a lead in the third inning when Jalen Miller doubled, stole third and came home on Ryan Howard's sac fly. The Giants made it 2-0 against Sixers' starter Nate Bertness in the fourth when Jonah Arenado doubled to open the frame and came home on Dillon Dobson's RBI single. Bertness was strong in his Cal League debut going five innings allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and eight Ks. Inland Empire (52-62, 22-22) had been stymied by Giants starter Mark Reyes until the sixth when Jordan Zimmerman doubled to open the frame. He moved to third on Jack Kruger's single and scored on Jared Walsh' RBI double making it 2-1. Kruger then scored on Keith Grieshaber's sac fly. The Sixers threat was quelled with the score tied 2-2 thanks to a brilliant diving catch in right-center by San Jose CF Ronnie Jebavy on Connor Justus' fly ball. Inland Empire hit into an inning-ending double-play in the seventh with the bases loaded and stranded a man at third in the eighth as well. After two scoreless frames IE reliever Nathan Bates (0-3) allowed a one-out single and stolen base to Steven Duggar. Bryan Reynolds then delivered a RBI single with two outs to take a 3-2 lead. Arenado and Dobson then followed with RBI doubles against reliever Sam Holland for a 5-2 lead. The Sixers got a one-out homer in the top of the ninth from Jahmai Jones making it 5-2 but Will LaMarche got the next two batters for his first save. Heath Slatton (2-3) was credited with the win. Arenado was 3-for-4 with three doubles and was 11-for-16 in the series.
The Sixers open a series at home on Tuesday at 7:05 pm versus Lake Elsinore. The contest can be seen and heard live at 66ers.com.
