San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino fell to the Stockton Ports 5-4 on Monday and lost the four-game set 3-1 in the process as each club has taken series in the other's ballpark on consecutive weeks. Jared Walsh smashed two homers and was intentionally walked twice
San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino fell to the Stockton Ports 5-4 on Monday and lost the four-game set 3-1 in the process as each club has taken series in the other's ballpark on consecutive weeks. Jared Walsh smashed two homers and was intentionally walked twice but the Ports (23-15) chipped away at Inland Empire leads of 3-0 and 4-1 to snatch a getaway-day win.
Angels right-hander Blake Wood (elbow) started the game for the Sixers and allowed no hits or walks in a 13-pitch, eight-strike one-inning outing. The 66ers (18-20) jumped on Stockton starter Brian Howard in the first as Jahmai Jones and Brandon Sandoval each singled setting up Walsh's three-run shot to right for a 3-0 lead. The Ports got a run in the top of the third on Nate Mondou's RBI single and another on Dairon Blanco's RBI infield hit. The Sixers made it 4-2 in the bottom of the third however when Walsh struck again versus Howard (4-2) when he launched an opposite field homer to left and moved into a tie for the league-lead with 11 homers. Inland Empire would not score again. The Ports made it 4-3 in the fifth on Blanco's RBI single and tied it at 4-4 in the seventh on Jonah Heim's sac fly against Carlos Salazar (0-2). Blanco was the next batter and delivered again for his fourth hit of the day and his third RBI giving the asparagus-eaters a 5-4 lead. In the bottom of the seventh the 66ers had the bases loaded with one out but Ports reliever Will Gilbert coaxed and inning-ending twin-killing. Miguel Romero struck out the side in the ninth for his seventh save.
The Sixers open a series at Lake Elsinore on Tuesday at 6:00 pm. The contest can be heard live at 66ers.com.
