San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino finished its 2017 home schedule as it began it…with a win over the San Jose Giants. The Sixers did not need the 16 innings it took to win on Opening Night as Inland Empire downed the Giants 5-3 on Thursday
San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino finished its 2017 home schedule as it began it…with a win over the San Jose Giants. The Sixers did not need the 16 innings it took to win on Opening Night as Inland Empire downed the Giants 5-3 on Thursday night.
The 66ers (64-72, 34-32) scored four times in the first inning as with one out Jack Kruger reached on an error, Jared Walsh was hit by a pitch and Michael Barash singled to load the bases against San Jose starter Domenic Mazza. Keith Greishaber then rifled a liner off the wall in left for a three-run double. A throwing error moved Grieshaber to third and he then scored on Connor Justus' sac-fly for a 4-0 lead. The Giants scored an unearned run against Joe Gatto in the second that was knocked home on Gio Brusa's RBI double. The Sixers boasted their lead in the fifth against Mazza when Jahmai Jones scored on Jared Walsh's RBI single. Mazza (0-2) ended up going 6.1 innings allowing five runs (three earned) and took the loss. San Jose (61-75, 31-35) added another run in the sixth against Gatto but the righty went 5.2 innings and improved to 3-2 with Inland Empire. The Giants cut the deficit to 5-3 in the seventh and put two men on base in the ninth but Samil De Los Santos got a game-ending double-play off the bat of Ryan Howard to secure the win and give the series to the Sixers two-games-to one. Inland Empire finished the season 8-7 against the Giants and 31-29 at San Manuel Stadium.
The Sixers open a four-game series at Lancaster Friday at 6:35 pm. The contest can be heard live at 66ers.com.
