66ers Open Second Half with 3-2 Win over Ports

San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers used a pair of homers and strong work on the mound to down Stockton 3-2 and open the second half of the California League schedule on the right foot at San Manuel Stadium on Thursday. The Sixers improved to 6-2 against Stockton on the year and snapped the Ports nine-game win streak in the process.

The 66ers (35-35, 1-0) were set down in order in the first by Stockton southpaw Dillon Overton (2-4) but Sixer DH Michael Snyder jumped on the initial offering of the second frame and drilled his seventh homer of the year out to left field to give IE a 1-0 lead. Left fielder Ruben Sosa tagged Overton again in the third when he launched a solo-shot out to left-center and boosted the advantage to 2-0. Overton went five innings and struck out a season-best seven batters.

Jordan Kipper (3-5) was efficient in his five frames for the 66ers. The Phoenix, AZ native retired the first seven batters he faced. He allowed five hits through five innings while striking out one and not walking a batter. The righty threw just 68 pitches on the evening before being relieved by Harrison Cooney in the sixth.

The teams traded single runs in the sixth. Stockton (38-33, 0-1) got on the board in the top half after Beau Taylor took a two-out walk and was knocked in on Tyler Marincov's RBI double. Inland Empire boosted its lead back to 3-1 when Roberto Baldoquin doubled and eventually scored an unearned run on a throwing error. The Ports trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the seventh when Brett Vertigan's sac fly to center scored Franklin Barreto who had doubled two batters earlier. Barreto finished the game with three hits.

Geoff Broussard slammed the door in the eighth and ninth frames for Inland Empire. The Rancho Cucamonga, CA native walked one in the eighth but struck out the side. He had a perfect ninth with two more K's to earn his third save in three chances.

The series continues on Friday at 7:05 pm. It can be heard live at 66ers.com.