The San Jose Giants scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning and made it hold up for a 4-2 win over the Inland Empire 66ers and win the California League championship on Tuesday night before 4,350 at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino.
The Giants swept the the best-of-three league championship series, 2-0.
The 66ers, the Angels Single-A affiliate, led 1-0 after the first inning and 2-1 through four innings, but struggled with walks in a crucial three-run sixth for the Giants.
San Jose won the series opener 7-3 on Sunday in the Bay Area. The 66ers needed to win Tuesday to force a deciding Game 3 on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the 66ers took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning when Hayden Alvarez singled in Jorge Ruiz, who had reached on an infield single. The Giants pulled even in the fourth when Lisbel Diaz hit a one-out triple and scored on a single by Diego Cartaya against IE starting pitcher Trey Gregory-Alford.
The Sixers moved back in front in the bottom half of the inning when Marlon Quintero singled in Kevin Bruggeman, who had reached on a one-out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch.
San Jose took the lead for good in the top of the sixth against two 66ers’ relievers Brandon Dufault and Zachary Redner. Dufault walked all three batters he faced to load the bases, and was replaced by Zachary Redner without recording an out.
Cartaya greeted Redner with a single that scored Lorenzo Meola to tie the game, 2-2. Walker Martin followed with a walk that forced in Trevor Cohen with the go-head run. Cameron Maldonado followed with a single that scored Diaz to make it 4-2.
Redner gave up two hits and walked a batter without recording an out.
Leonard Garcia replaced Redner to get the 66ers out of the inning but the damage was done.
Hayden-Alvarez, a 6-foot-5 right-hander, gave up one run on five hits in five innings with four strikeouts.
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