STOCKTON, Calif. - For just over six innings on Thursday night, things were literally perfect for the Stockton Ports at Banner Island Ballpark.

Ricky Oropesa's single in the top of the 12th inning scored Joe Panik with the eventual winning run as the San Jose Giants earned a 4-3 victory over the Bakersfield Blaze on Thursday evening at Sam Lynn Ballpark. In the opener of a three-game series, Bakersfield tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on Juan Duran's solo home run before the Giants went ahead for good in the 12th. The win extends San Jose's (30-17) lead over the Blaze (26-20) to 3 1/2 games in the first half North Division...

For the second time in less than a week, the Bakersfield Blaze needed extra innings to decide a contest, but unlike the victory last Saturday, on this night the San Jose Giants were able to squeak across the final run and deal the Blaze a defeat, 4-3.

Travis Witherspoon led the charge on a banner offensive night for the Inland Empire 66ers (23-24) who kicked off their six game road trip with a dominating 12-6 win over the Lancaster JetHawks (23-24). Inland Empire's leadoff man hit for the cycle Thursday night in while scoring three runs and driving in two for Inland Empire.