Ramos goes deep in wild loss to 66ers

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Roberto Ramos homered again, but the JetHawks were unable to protect two four-run leads in a 14-11 series-opening loss to the Inland Empire 66ers on Monday night at San Manuel Stadium.
Ramos' two-run blast, his league-leading 17th of the season, capped a five-run fourth inning in which the JetHawks (29-35) took a 7-4 lead and chased 66ers (31-33) starter Simon Matthews. They extended the lead to 8-4 in the fifth inning.
The 66ers scored twice against starter Brandon Gold in the fifth inning, but Lancaster answered with two in the top of the sixth on a Willie Abreu RBI-single and a Brian Serven sacrifice-fly.
Gold returned for the bottom of the sixth but was relieved by reliever Kenny Oakley after allowing two base-runners. The 66ers went on to score five runs in the frame to take an 11-10 lead. Gold finished with a career-high eight earned runs over 5.1 innings pitched.
Lancaster scored an unearned run, its fifth of the game, in the seventh to tie the game, 11-11, but Inland Empire immediately broke the tie in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, Jordan Zimmerman hit a shallow fly ball into right field that Steven Linkous was unable to catch on a sliding attempt. Two runs scored on the play.
The JetHawks remain in fourth place in the South Division, three games behind first-place Lake Elsinore with six games to play in the first half.
The series continues Tuesday night at San Manuel Stadium. Rico Garcia (5-7) will start for Lancaster opposite Erik Manoah Jr. (1-5). First pitch is 7:05 p.m.