Russell fuels 66ers' 10-run inning
Russell remained one of the Minor Leagues' hottest hitters Saturday, slugging a grand slam and collecting five RBIs in a 10-run first inning, as the Inland Empire 66ers crushed the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, 16-5.
The reigning Midwest League MVP got the 66ers going by doubling home Chris Gutierrez with one out in the first. Travis Denker and Steven Caseres sandwiched RBI singles around Austin Gallagher's run-scoring double before Nick Buss drew a bases-loaded walk to extend Inland Empire's lead to 6-0.
With the bases still full, Russell greeted reliever Jose Perez with a blast over the right-field fence for his first career grand slam. He also singled and scored again in the sixth.
The five RBIs matched the career high Russell established in Wednesday's 18-3 rout of High Desert. The former third-round pick has homered in each of his last four games, going 10-for-18 with 14 RBIs.
The 23-year-old outfielder leads the California League with 10 homers, ranks second with a .628 slugging percentage, 98 total bases and 23 extra-base hits and is third with 37 RBIs.
Like Russell, Denker collected three hits, including a homer, and scored three runs. Caseres, Gallagher and Tony Delmonico each contributed a pair of RBIs as the 66ers won for the fourth time in five games.
Former fifth-rounder Jon Michael Redding (1-2) took advantage of all the run support and claimed his first Cal League win. The 22-year-old right-hander gave up five runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits over five innings.
Quakes starter Ariel Pena (0-1) entered with an 0.93 ERA but retired only two batters and was charged with nine runs on six hits and four walks.