Early Runs Too Much to Overcome in Eighth Straight Loss for 66ers

San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino fell behind the Stockton Ports 9-0 after three-and-a-half innings and it proved to be too much to overcome in a 9-5 loss on Independence Day in front of 6,518 fans. Inland Empire (37-47, 4-10) has now lost a season-worst eight consecutive games.
Erik Manoah Jr. (1-7) started for the Sixers after being activated from the Disabled List prior to the game. The righty gave up a triple to open the game to Brallan Perez on the first pitch of the contest. Luis Barrera followed with a RBI single on the second pitch to put the Ports (54-30, 10-4) on the board. The Ports scored five more in the second highlighted by a two-run single from Sanber Pimintel and a RBI single from Perez. The Ports SS had a double later in the night to finish 3-for-5 and come a homer short of the cycle for his second consecutive game. Xavier Altamirano (3-0) cruised through three frames and had a 9-0 lead until the fourth when Brandon Marsh singled to lead off the frame and with two down Jonah Todd singled to set up a two-run double for David MacKinnon. In the fifth the Sixers struck again when Jahmai Jones was hit by a pitch and Jo Adell followed with a two-run homer to left making it 9-4. The homer was Adell's 11^th for the Sixers in 38 games. In the sixth Inland Empire scored a run on got three straight singles and then scored a run on a wild pitch making it 9-5. A walk to Adell re-loaded the bags and brought the tying run to the plate but the Ports got out of the jam and neither club scored again. Jorge Tavarez and Eduardo Rivera combined to toss five one-hit, shutout frames out of the bullpen to keep the Sixers in the game. The Ports were 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
The series continues Thursday at 7:05. The contest can be heard live at 66ers.com.