Sixers Hammer Three Jacks in Third Inning, Ride Strong Pitching to Victory

San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino fell behind 3-0 to the Lake Elsinore Storm on Friday night at San Manuel Stadium but rode a three-homer, five-run third inning outburst to a 6-3 win. The 66ers (48-46) also received a strong pitching from a trio of arms highlighted by four scoreless frames out of the bullpen.

The Storm (40-53) touched Sixers’ starter Jose Salvador for three runs in the second inning getting an RBI double from Lucas Dunn, sac fly from Colton Bender and another run when Dunn came home on the back end of a double steal for a 3-0 advantage. Salvador settled in and allowed no more runs finishing his evening with eight strikeouts. After Storm starter Jairo Iriarte (0-3) set the first seven men he faced down in order, Jose Guzman launched a solo homer, his fifth of the year, out to right to cut the lead to 3-1. Gustavo Campero followed with a bunt single and Carson Matthew singled as well to put two men on. D’Shawn Knowles then drilled a three-run homer to center giving Inland Empire a 4-3 lead. The long ball was the fourth of the season for Knowles. Braxton Martinez came up next and smoked a solo homer to left-center, his team-best 12th, putting IE up 5-3. Connor Van Scoyoc relieved Salvador (6-5) and smothered the Storm tossing three innings allowing two hits and no walks with six Ks. Inland Empire added an insurance run in the eighth when Paxton Wallace delivered a two-out RBI single to right making for a 6-3 advantage. The Storm put two on in the ninth but IE closer Emilker Guzman coaxed a comebacker from Sean Guilbe to finish off the Storm and secure his tenth save in ten opportunities. Martinez finished with three hits on the night for Inland Empire raising his average to .337. The Sixers are now 17-11 versus the Storm in 2021 and have taken three of four in the six-game set.

The series continues Saturday at 7:05 pm. The contest can be seen and heard live on 66ers.com.