Bertness, Sandoval Dazzle as 66ers Collect League-Best 14th Shutout

Lancaster, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino snapped a three-game losing skid and collected their league-best 14^th shutout in the process on Friday night with a 6-0 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm. The 66ers have won five straight games at San Manuel Stadium and four have been shutouts. In the five-game stretch of home dominance, the 66ers (60-58, 27-21) have allowed just one run.
Patrick Sandoval opened the game on the hill for the Sixers and tossed the first 4.2 innings surrendering two hits with no walks and with seven strikeouts. In three starts since joining the 66ers after being traded from Houston to the Angels for C Martin Maldonado, Sandoval has tossed 14.2 scoreless innings allowing six hits, eight walks and 21 Ks. Nate Bertness took over for his fellow southpaw in fifth and struck out the first batter he faced. It was the first of a career-high matching eight Ks for the Sugar Land, TX native who allowed two hits and a walk in his 3.1 innings of shutout work. Bertness (3-7) was credited with the win. Dayan Díaz had a perfect ninth to complete the Sixers shutout of Lake Elsinore (57-61, 23-25). Inland Empire's offense jumped on Storm starter Pedro Avila (7-7) in the first when Brandon Marsh hit a booming double to open the frame. Rene´ Rivera, with the 66ers on an MLB injury rehab, walked. With one out Connor Justus landed an RBI single to left and David MacKinnon followed with an RBI double. Jonah Todd's sac fly made it 3-0. The Sixers added a two-run double from 3B Richie Fecteau in the fourth and an RBI single by Todd in the fifth. Justus, MacKinnon and Fecteau all had two-hit nights for the 66ers. Ruddy Giron had a two-hit night for the Storm.
The series continues Saturday at 6:05 pm. The contest can be heard live on 66ers.com