66ers Offense Scores in Bunches, Gatto Shines on Mound

San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino opened a four-game set with the Lancaster JetHawks with an 8-3 win over the visitors behind dominant starting pitching from Joe Gatto and a four RBI game for Jonah Todd. The Sixers used a four-run fifth inning and tacked on a pair in the sixth and eighth frames for the win in the first 2018 meeting between the two clubs.
Joe Gatto (1-0) dominated on the mound for Inland Empire tossing six innings allowing three hits, two walks and striking out nine batters. The righty from Hammonton, NJ finished two strikeouts off his career-high of 11 set back in 2016. Heath Holder started for Lancaster (7-8) and tossed four scoreless frames of one-hit work with two walks and six Ks. The 66ers (7-8) however, got to Holder's relief corps as with two outs and the base loaded, Todd drilled a 3-1 pitch to the wall in centerfield off JetHawks reliever Kenny Oakley (0-1). Jack Kruger followed with a RBI double for a 4-0 lead. The Sixers tacked on two more in the sixth highlighted by Brandon Sandoval's RBI single, another run came home on an error. Inland Empire got two more in the eighth on and RBI single by Luis Rengifo and RBI grounder from Todd. Rengifo finished the game 2-for-3 with two walks and three stolen bases; he leads the league with 11 steals.
The series continues Friday at 7:05 pm. The contest can be heard live at 66ers.com.