66ers Win Finale Over I-10 Rivals
San Bernardino, CA -The Inland Empire 66ers (60-51, 23-18) wrapped up a second straight fantastic season against their I-10 rivals with a 10-3 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (51-60, 20-21). Inland Empire will end the 2013 regular season with a 16-8 record against Rancho.
Alex Keudell endured a less than perfect first inning, but he managed to turn around his luck and deliver a fourth consecutive quality outing to improve his record to 4-0. At one point Keudell quieted the Quakes lineup by retiring 11 straight batters.
The 66ers began chipping away at the Quakes when Zach Borenstein drove in a run on a double in the 1st, but the big offensive output came an inning later. In the 2nd the High-A Halos scored five runs. One on an Eric Stamets bunt single with the bases loaded and two out, and the other four on a grand slam by Alex Yarbrough to make it 6-3 Inland Empire.
The boys in red were not content with a mid-game score of 7-3 in their favor as they entered the bottom of the sixth. With no outs to speak of, Stamets reached the first bag safely due to a fielding error made by Quakes shortstop Sweeney, scoring Capote for the 8th home tally. Borenstein took to the bat again for a multi-hit game, scoring Gowens with an RBI single. Despite hitting into a ground-rule double on a fly to left-center, Hernandez managed to manufacture yet another 66ers run, the tenth home tally of the night.
Inland Empire's bullpen ended the night by going the final two innings without allowing a hit. R.J. Alvarez pitched the 8th, and Eric Cendejas threw the 9th. Cendejas inning gave him 89 career appearances in a 66ers uniform, tied for 2nd most in franchise history.
Tomorrow night the 66ers will begin their six game road trip against the Lake Elsinore Storm. Right-handed pitcher Danny Reynolds is scheduled to deliver his first offering at 7:05pm. Catch the game on the 66ers flagship station AM 1050 KCAA. For more information on 66ers tickets or to schedule your next fun filled group outing, contact the 66ers front office at (909)888-9922.