San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino played as their alter-ego Los Cucuys on Thursday at San Manual Stadium and changed the club's luck as they downed Lake Elsinore 6-5 to end a season-worst six-game losing streak. The 66ers (28-32) jumped led early in the contest but
San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino played as their alter-ego Los Cucuys on Thursday at San Manual Stadium and changed the club's luck as they downed Lake Elsinore 6-5 to end a season-worst six-game losing streak. The 66ers (28-32) jumped led early in the contest but had to come-from-behind and did so with five shutout, one-hit innings of work from its bullpen.
Inland Empire jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Storm starter Pedro Avila (3-4) in the bottom of the first when Jahmai Jones opened the frame with a double. Jo Adell followed with a RBI double and then scored on Brandon Marsh's base-hit to left. Roberto Baldoquin knocked home Marsh two batters later. The Storm (30-30) were held down into the third when Edward Olivares and Luis Torrens hit back-to-back two-out triples off Sixers starter Erik Manoah Jr.. Brad Zunica then opened the top of the fourth with a triple and scored on Chris Baker's RBI single. Greg Lambert followed with and RBI single and Eguy Rosario capped the scoring with a two-run double to make it 5-3 Lake Elsinore. The 66ers answered in the bottom of the sixth when Marsh walked against Avila (who went seven innings) to open the inning and gave up a one out single to Baldoquin. Both runners scored (Baldoquin on a close relay at the plate) to tie the game on Jordan Zimmerman's double down the left field line. Catcher Franlin Navarro then drilled a RBI double to right to give the Sixers a 6-5 lead. Zac Ryan (3-0) gave IE three one-hit scoreless innings out of the pen and Eduardo Rivera, who had not recorded an out in his two prior appearances, came in for the eighth inning. Rivera retired the first five batters he faced before walking a pair with two outs in the ninth but got Hudson Potts to pop out to Adell in right field to secure his first save of the year. Ryan and Rivera combined to toss 5.0 innings allowing one hit, three walks and seven Ks.
The 66ers play at Rancho Cucamonga Friday at 7:05pm. The contest can be heard live at 66ers.com.
