Inland Empire’s Comeback at Visalia Falls Short

Visalia, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino scored five in the eighth inning at Visalia on Saturday but could not complete a comeback falling 10-9. Inland Empire jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings but did not have a baserunner between the third and the seventh innings as Visalia peppered the 66ers who fell back to .500 at 41-41.

After D’Shawn Knowles opened the game with a single against Zach Barnes in his pro debut. Kyren Paris, reinstated from the Injured List earlier in the day and appearing for the Sixers for the first time since May 22nd, drilled a two-run homer to right field. Later in the frame, Cade Cabbiness smashed a solo shot making it 3-0, it was Cabbiness’ third homer in his eighth professional game. The Sixers tacked on an unearned run in the second making it 4-0. After two shutout frames to start the contest, Inland Empire starter Jose Salvador (5-4) gave up three straight doubles making it 4-2. After Elian Miranda notched a RBI single in the fourth to cut the lead to one run, the Rawhide (21-62) got two runners on and Ryan Bliss launched a three-run homer to left making it 6-4, his second homer in two days. In the sixth, Sixers’ reliever Connor Van Scoyoc got one strike away from escaping trouble with two on but Neyfy Castillo crushed a three-run homer making it 9-4. Castillo leads Visalia with 15 homers. Tim Tawa added a solo shot in the seventh, his first as a pro, giving the Rawhide a 10-4 lead. Inland Empire’s dormant offense awoke in the eighth against reliever Francis Beriguete as Carson Matthews doubled, Knowles walked and Paris singled to load the bags. Gabe Matthews then drew a bases loaded walk to chase the southpaw and cut the lead to 10-5. Righty Jose Alcantara came in for the Rawhide and Edwin Yon doubled in two runs making it 10-7. Cabbiness’ RBI groundout made it 10-8 and Paxton Wallace’s single to left shaved the lead to one run 10-9. Alcantara got a ground out and a strikeout to strand the tying run aboard. In the top of the ninth, Paris drew a two-out walk but Alcantara got Gabe Matthews to fly out to center to lock down his first save of the season and end Matthews hit-streak at six games.

The series concludes Sunday at 1:00 pm. The contest can be heard live on 66ers.com.