PORTS 5, GIANTS 3 Investigation follows slugger to ballpark By Mark Godi June 03, 2012 12:00 AM STOCKTON – San Francisco Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval made his return to the baseball diamond Saturday while he was making news off of it.The 2011 All-Star broke his non-throwing hand during a swing April 29 against the San Diego Padres. He had surgery shortly after and made his rehab debut with the San Jose Giants, who lost to the Ports 5-3 at Stockton Ballpark in front of 5,251.His return to the field wasn’t the only news surrounding Sandoval. CSN Bay Area and The Associated Press reported before the game that Sandoval spoke with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department in regard to a sexual relationship with a woman Friday night. Deputy Sheriff April Skalland said Saturday that the investigation was ongoing.”No charges have been filed. He was not arrested; he was not detained,” Skalland said. “He was interviewed with his lawyer present and he cooperated.”Sandoval’s attorney said that his client met with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department regarding what the lawyer called a “consensual” sexual relationship. Sandoval was a guest at Seascape Beach Resort in the Monterey Bay Peninsula.Said Sandoval lawyer Eric Geffon: “On Friday, June 1, Pablo Sandoval voluntarily met with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department related to a consensual, personal relationship of a sexual nature that took place earlier that day,” Geffon said in a statement. “Pablo fully cooperated with the Sheriff’s Department. Out of respect for the process, we have no further comment at this time.”Sandoval declined to comment after the game.Sandoval showed his signature powerful swing in every at-bat against Stockton (20-35) and will be in town through Monday. A switch hitter, he hit only left-handed for San Jose (32-23) and went 1 for 4 with a single to right field. He grounded out and flew out by unraveling at first pitches and struck out swinging.”I swung the bat just like I always swing it,” Sandoval said. “I thought (my hand) might be a little sore after the first game, but it felt great.”The break occurred in Sandoval’s hamate bone a year after his All-Star 2011 season in which he broke the same bone in his right hand. He was hitting .316 with five home runs before going down this season.Sandoval made his Single-A debut in Stockton on April 6, 2007. He went 0 for 4 that day with two strikeouts and an inning-ending double play.Sandoval blew up in 2008 with San Jose by hitting .359 with 12 home runs. He was promoted to Double-A midway through the year and made it to San Francisco by the end of the season. However, he hit .245 for his minor league career against the Ports.”Not every day you’re going to get hits,” Sandoval said. “Against Stockton, I was just never very lucky, I guess.”Sandoval signed autographs before Saturday’s game in front of San Jose’s dugout to a crowed of fans five rows deep. He also posed for pictures and played to the crowd while in the on-deck circle.”I want to make the fans happy,” Sandoval said. “That’s the way we handle it. Play the game and have fun.”Meanwhile, the Ports won after trailing 3-0 after three innings. They tied the game in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly by Max Stassi and went ahead an at bat later with a sacrifice fly by Beau Taylor. Dusty Taylor added the final run with a solo homer and was 2 for 4.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Ads by Google