California League: First half winds down with division leaders

San Jose Giants clinch North Division’s First Half Championship

With the elimination number down to 1 and the only team left being the Visalia Rawhide, the San Jose Giants played the second game of a four game series against the Rawhide.

San Jose, with a league leading 23-10 record on the road, won the game in 10 innings, when Visalia shortstop Sean Jamieson couldn’t field a grounder that came on a bad hop, leading to Giants center fielder Chris Lofton to score.

Lancaster Jethawks with one left to go

The South Division is still up for grabs, with both the Lancaster Jethawks and the Inland Empire 66ers being the only two teams that haven’t been eliminated.

The Jethawks currently lead the division by two games and the 66ers have an elimination number of 1. Both teams are playing away games this weekend — Lancaster at Lake Elsinore and Inland Empire at High Desert.

Dodgers prospect falls short of cycle

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes outfielder Jon Garcia went 4-for-5 on Jun. 14, in a blowout against the Stockton Ports.

Garcia is currently tied for second for the most home runs hit in the California League with 16 on the season. On Friday night, he hit two home runs and drove five runs in, lacking only a triple for the cycle.

Ports pitcher Schaeffer Hall lasted only two innings, giving up nine hits, eight runs, and three home runs.

All-Star Game home run derby participants announced

On Thursday, the participants in the California-Carolina League All-Star Game’s Home Run Derby was announced. Included in the list is San Jose’s own home run leader, Angel Villalona.

For the California League, High Desert’s Jabari Blash and Inland Empire’s Zach Borenstein round out the list.

Carolina League’s participants include the Lynchburg Hillcats’ Robby Hefflinger, the Carolina Mudcats’ Tyler Naquin, and the Winston-Salem Dash’s Chris Curley.

The Home Run Derby begins at 5:30 p.m. on Jun. 18. For more information, check out the San Jose Giants’ press release.