Lake Elsinore, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino banged out a season-best 15 hits in a 7-4 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm at The Diamond on Thursday. The 66ers (20-21) took the final two games of the set to take the series 2-1 and even their season
Lake Elsinore, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino banged out a season-best 15 hits in a 7-4 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm at The Diamond on Thursday. The 66ers (20-21) took the final two games of the set to take the series 2-1 and even their season mark at 5-5 against the Storm. Jahmai Jones and Brandon Sandoval paced the Sixers offense with three hits apiece while righties Matt Ball (4IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 1BB) and Jeremy Beasley (4IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 5Ks) earned the win and save respectively in each hurler's California League debut.
Inland Empire scored a run in the first on Sandoval's RBI single that scored Jones against Lake Elsinore (17-24) starter Michel Baez (0-4). The Storm got a run in the bottom of the first that was charged to Angels righty Blake Wood who was making his second injury rehab outing for the 66ers. After an unearned run in second gave the Storm a 2-1 lead, the Sixers got back in front with a three-run fifth frame highlighted by RBI singles from Jones and Jack Kruger. Inland Empire made it a 6-2 lead in the sixth on when Jordan Zimmerman and Jones again tacked on RBI base-hits. The Sixers made it 7-2 in the eighth when Jones struck for a third time tagging a two-out RBI single for his third hit and third RBI of the night. The second baseman also picked up a walk and scored two runs while stealing his fifth and sixth bases of the year. Sandoval raised his average to .354 with his three hits and stole his ninth base of the year while Luis Rengifo added to a league best total of 21 with two bags himself; the Sixers set a season-high with five steals. Jonah Todd had a double, IE's lone extra-base hit.
The 66ers open a home series versus Lancaster on Friday at 7:05 pm. The contest can be heard live at 66ers.com.
