Big Inning, Strong Pitching Vault 66ers to Series Win

Lake Elsinore, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers scored all five of their runs in the top of the fourth inning and rode a quartet of arm to down the Lake Elsinore Storm 5-3 at The Diamond on Wednesday. The victory was the Sixers' second straight and secured the three-game series.

The 66ers busted up a scoreless game in the top of the fourth off Storm starter Ernesto Montas (0-1) when Mike Fish opened the frame with a single. Eric Aguilera walked. After a double play put a runner at second with two outs, Kody Eaves legged out an infield single. Andrew Daniel followed with an RBI single to left scoring Aguilera. Angel Rosa promptly singled in a run to make it 2-0. Montas then committed a fielding error to extend the inning. Inland Empire (49-51- capitalized when Eason Spivey drilled a two run single to center. Bo Way, the ninth batter of the inning, tagged a RBI single as well to make it a 5-0 lead. Montas' final line was 4IP, 7H, 5R, 2ER, 2BB, 2Ks.

The Storm (39-63, 8-24) finally got to Inland Empire starter Jeremy Rhoades (2-1) in the bottom of the fourth. Lake Elsinore got an RBI single from Hemet, CA native Ryan Miller and a sac fly from Chase Jensen to chisel into the lead 5-2. Rhoades would cruise through the fifth and sixth but got into trouble in the seventh. Jensen homered to open the frame. Donavan Tate then walked and Felipe Blanco singled to put runners at first and second with no outs. Inland Empire turned to the bullpen and it did not disappoint. Righty Ronnie Muck entered for the 66ers and Auston Bousfield sacrifice bunted the baserunners into scoring position. Muck retired the next two batters and preserved the lead. Rhoades went 6IP, 7H, 3ER, 2BB, 8Ks.

Tyler Carpenter pitched a clean eight inning for the 66ers. The Alpharetta, GA native fanned one batter. Inland Empire closer Geoff Broussard then slammed the door in the ninth with a perfect inning including two Ks. The righty is now 12-of-13 in save conversions. The 66ers had nine hits, all singles, but were five-for-ten with runners in scoring position. Way and Eaves each had two hits.

The 66ers will have three-time MLB All-Star Jered Weaver on the mound versus Bakersfield at San Manuel Stadium on Thursday at 7:05 pm. The game can be heard live at 66ers.com.

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