Rancho Cucamonga, CA- The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes got three separate big innings and dominant mound work to take the series opener over the Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino 10-1 on Monday. The Quakes staff struck out 11 Sixers without issuing a walk while Rancho Cucamonga's offense drilled three homers
Rancho Cucamonga, CA- The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes got three separate big innings and dominant mound work to take the series opener over the Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino 10-1 on Monday. The Quakes staff struck out 11 Sixers without issuing a walk while Rancho Cucamonga's offense drilled three homers in a 15-hit attack.
Inland Empire (29-35) starter Luis Pena got out of a bases loaded jam in the first but could not escape unscathed in the third as Errol Robinson doubled and scored on Yusniel Díaz' single. DJ Peters then smashed a two-run homer, his tenth, to left for a 3-0 lead for the Quakes (33-31). The Sixers got a run in the fifth when with two outs Jordan Serena singled off Quakes starter Devin Smeltzer and Cody Ramer reached on an error. Brennan Lund then doubled in Serena but Ramer was cut down at the plate to end the frame with the Sixers trailing 3-1. Smeltzer went seven innings allowing just that unearned run with nine Ks and no walks. He earned his first Cal League win in his second start and is 1-0.
Pena (2-7) rolled through the fourth and fifth but allowed three in the sixth capped by a two-run homer by Victor Roache, his third, making it 6-1. The Quakes poured it on in the eighth as Ibandel Isabel smacked an opposite field two-run homer and Will Smith drilled a two-run double making it 10-1. Isabel has a league-best 15 homers, six have come against Inland Empire. Robinson went 4-for-5 with a double and a stolen base for the Quakes; he did make two throwing errors in the game at second base Troy Montgomery was 2-for-4 with the Sixers, his third consecutive two-hit game.
The series continues Tuesday at 7:05 pm. The contest can be heard live at 66ers.com.
