San Jose Giants Rout Inland Empire 66ers 11-3 - Advanced A, California League

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Giants tied a season-high with 18 hits in a convincing 11-3 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers on Friday night at Arrowhead Credit Union Park.  In the opener of a three-game series, seven different Giants starters recorded multiple-hit games at the plate while Tim Alderson earned the win on the mound with 5 2/3 effective innings of work.  With the victory, San Jose improves their record to 19-10.
 
Ryan Rohlinger (3-for-5, 2 2B, RBI, SB), Mike Mooney (3-for-5, 2B) and Sharlon Schoop (3-for-4, RBI) led the Giants offensive attack on Friday.  Matt Downs (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) also connected for his fifth home run of the season.
 
San Jose jumped in front with four runs in the top of the third inning against 66ers starting pitcher Alberto Bastardo.  With the game scoreless, Schoop started the frame with a single before advancing to second on Mike McBryde’s sacrifice bunt.  After Downs drew a walk, Rohlinger doubled down the right field line to plate Schoop with the first run of the contest.  Pablo Sandoval then stepped to
ADVERTISEMENT the plate and grounded a single up the middle to score both Downs and Rohlinger for a 3-0 lead.  Sandoval eventually scored the fourth run of the frame on a fielder’s choice.
 
The Giants added to their lead in the top of the fourth when Bobby Felmy scored on a one-out wild pitch.
 
Alderson was dominant early in his start retiring 11 of the first 12 Inland Empire hitters he faced.  However with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, four consecutive 66ers hitters reached base safely against Alderson with two scoring runs.  Eduardo Perez started the rally with a single before Carlos Santana drew a walk.  Drew Locke and Thomas Giles then connected for back-to-back RBI singles to bring Inland Empire to within 5-2.
 
Both clubs scored single runs in the sixth inning with McBryde bringing home Schoop with a clutch two-out single in the top of the frame.  In the bottom of the inning, Alderson walked Locke with two outs before Giles was hit by a pitch.  Ryan Shaver was then summoned from the bullpen and he promptly allowed a single to Jaime Pedroza into right field.  On the play, Mooney fired a perfect throw home only to see Locke run over Sandoval and knock the ball out of the catcher’s glove.  The ball then rolled into foul territory in front of the San Jose dugout as Giles raced around third base in an attempt to score a second run on the play.  However, Brett Pill quickly picked up the ball and his throw home to Sandoval easily beat Giles as the Giants catcher absorbed a second collision on the play, this time picking up the out.
 
Alderson (4-1) allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits during his stint on the mound.  The right-hander walked two and struck out four.
 
In the top of the seventh, Downs led off with a towering home run to straightaway left field to make the score 7-3.  Rohlinger followed with a single before stealing second base.  He would eventually score on Andy D’Alessio’s double off the fence in right field.
 
The Giants added two more runs in the top of the eighth on consecutive RBI singles from McBryde and Downs.  Then in the ninth, Mooney led off with a double to the fence in right field before scoring on Schoop’s single.
 
Sandoval (2-for-5, 2 RBI), Pill (2-for-5) and McBryde (2-for-4, 2 RBI) also contributed multiple-hit games for the Giants.
 
Notes: San Jose improved to 2-2 on their current six-game road trip … Alderson tied Kevin Pucetas for the team-lead in victories … The Giants out-hit the 66ers by an 18-8 margin … Every San Jose starter with the exception of Felmy (0-for-4) recorded at least one hit … Mooney was added to the Giants roster from Extended Spring Training before the game … He had played in San Jose’s first two games this season before suffering a leg injury … The Giants remained two games behind the Stockton Ports (21-8) for the top spot in the North Division.
 
On Deck: The Giants and 66ers continue this three-game series on Saturday evening with first pitch at Arrowhead Credit Union Park scheduled for 7:05 P.M.  Jesse English (3-1, 2.70 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Inland Empire is expected to counter with Josh Wall (1-1, 7.23 ERA).  The game can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com.

If you like the daily news of the Raw Feed, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to the nation's only alternative professional sports magazine, SZ, with original features and great action photography in baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. Just $11.99 per year for an e-zine like you’ve never seen!