Quakes Shutout Sixers, Spoil Ellis' Outing

Rancho Cucamonga, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers were shutout by the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6-0 at LoanMart Field on Friday in front of a raucous 4,402 fans there to collect a Yasiel Puig Bobblehead Doll and root on Dodgers' closer Kenley Jansen who started the game for the home club. The shutout evened the season series at 2-2 with the last two ballgames being 6-0 wins for Rancho Cucamonga. Inland Empire (11-11) has been shutout four times in 2015.

Jansen, who converted from catcher to pitcher in 2009 while a member of the then Dodger-affiliated Inland Empire 66ers franchise started the game for the Quakes and tossed a scoreless frame. Jansen, rehabbing a foot injury, allowed a single to Bo Way to lead of the game but gave up no runs while tallying one K.

Chris Ellis was magnificent for the 66ers as the Ole Miss product rolled through the Rancho Cucamonga (13-9) lineup. The Birmingham, AL native sat down the first eight batters he faced and had allowed just one walk through first four innings. In the fifth, Quakes catcher Webster Rivas jumped on a 3-1 pitch and homered to left field for the first hit and run of the game for Rancho. Ellis (0-3) allowed only the homer and walk to blemish his line in six frames. He struck out four in the hard-luck decision.

Jonathan Richy (3-1) came out of the pen to relieve Jansen and struck out eight batters in 4.2 innings. Jonathan Benjamin tossed 2.1 innings and Victor Araujo locked down the ninth to complete the Quakes second shutout of the year, both against Inland Empire.

Rancho Cucamonga blew the contest open with a five-run seventh inning aided by three walks, three wild pitches and an error. Eric Aguilera had two hits including a double for the SIxers, he was the only player with a multi-hit game. Kaleb Cowart tripled in the loss.

The series continues Saturday at 7:05 pm at LoanMart Field. It can be heard live at 66ers.com.

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