San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino took the series finale of the three-game set and the series itself with a 2-1 victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm at San Manuel Stadium on Thursday. Each game in the series was decided by one-run as Inland Empire moved
San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino took the series finale of the three-game set and the series itself with a 2-1 victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm at San Manuel Stadium on Thursday. Each game in the series was decided by one-run as Inland Empire moved to 15-9 against the Storm in 2017 guaranteeing them the season-series win with four game remaining.
Inland Empire (54-63, 24-23) got a run the first batter of the bottom of the first inning when Jahmai Jones lifted a solo homer to left for a 1-0 lead off Storm starter Emmanuel Ramirez. It was Jones' third homer with the 66ers and extended his hitting streak to 13-games. Ramirez then retired nine in a row and finished the game allowing just the one run and two hits with two walks with eight Ks in six innings. Joe Gatto was impressive in his home debut for Inland Empire as the righty tossed six shutout frames allowing three hits and three walks with three Ks in a no-decision.
In the seventh the Storm (55-62, 20-27) evened the game as Kyle Overstreet opened the inning with a single off IE reliever Sean Isaac. The righty struck out back-to-back batters and got Chris Baker to bounce back to him up the first base line but threw the ball into right allowing Overstreet to score an unearned run tying the game 1-1. In the bottom of the eighth the Sixers struck back as Derek Jenkins drew a walk from David Bednar (0-2) and then stole second with one out. Jake Yacinich the delivered a single center for a 2-1 lead. Sam Holland (1-0), who had pitched perfect eighth allowed a two-out walk but nothing else in the ninth to earn his first win of the year. Inland Empire stole four bags in the win with Brandon Diaz nabbing two.
The Sixers open a series versus Rancho Cucamonga on Friday at 7:05 pm. The contest can be seen and heard live at 66ers.com.
