66ers Break Scoring Seal, Down JetHawks 6-2

July 10, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Inland Empire 66ers News Release

San Bernardino, CA- After being shutout for the first 14 innings of the series the Inland Empire 66ers scored six runs over their final three innings and downed Lancaster JetHawks 6-2 at San Manuel Stadium on Saturday. The 66ers got strong relief pitching from Jason Hoppe (1-2) and Kevin Grendell to outlast Lancaster (44-42, 10-7) and even the four-game set at one-game apiece.

The JetHawks had 66ers starter Jake Jewell in trouble in the top of the first inning but twice were thrown out attempting to steal third base by Inland Empire (31-56, 8-9) catcher Taylor Ward and Jewell escaped unscathed. Jewell battled to give the Sixers six innings of two-run work despite allowing five walks. He struck out two and allowed four hits and did not figure in the decision.

The Sixers got Jewell off the hook in the bottom of the sixth when they finally figured out Jewell's Northeast Oklahoma A&M JC teammate Dean Deetz (4-5). The righty had held the 66ers down for five frames but the Sixers tied the game when Josh Delph was hit by a pitch and Zach Welz walked. Tim Arakawa's sac bunt moved those men up and David Fletcher's groundout brought in the Sixers first run to make it 2-1. Wade Wass followed two batters later with two-out RBI single to tie the game. The 66ers took the lead in the seventh with a run Ryan Sebra singled to open the inning and stole second. He moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Welz' two-out RBI single to make it 3-2. Welz finished 2-for-2 with a double and a walk and a RBI.

The Sixers got stellar relief from righty Jason Hoppe who tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth allowing just a two-out single in the seventh to Bobby Boyd after two Ks to open the frame. Hoppe promptly picked Boyd off at first. Hoppe, a Rice, MN native, then struck out the side in a perfect eighth inning. He earned his first Cal League win.

The Sixers added insurance in the bottom of the eighth when Fletcher doubled and moved to third base on Ward's sac bunt. Ward was safe at first on the attempt at third. Fletcher came home on reliever Kevin McCanna's wild pitch and Ward came home when Wass drilled an RBI double for his second RBI of the game. After stealing third Wass came home on Zach Houchins' sac fly to cap the scoring at 6-2. Kevin Grendell tossed a perfect ninth with a strikeout to finish the game. Fletcher and Wass joined Welz with two-hit games and each tallied a double.

California League Stories from July 10, 2016

• Three-Run Ninth Inning Lifts Giants to Walk-Off Win - San Jose Giants
• Ports Lose 5-4 on Balk in Ninth - Stockton Ports
• Efficient Offense Leads to 6-2 Win - Modesto Nuts
• High-Five In First Leads 'hawks To Shutout Rout - Lancaster JetHawks
• Blaze Awake for Last Call as Furious Rally Dumps Rawhide - Bakersfield Blaze
• Visalia Allows Seven Runs in Ninth Inning to Fall 9-7 - Visalia Rawhide
• 66ers Break Scoring Seal, Down JetHawks 6-2 - Inland Empire 66ers
• Ninth-Inning Thunder Not Enough against Storm - Modesto Nuts
• Jethawks Succomb To Late 66ers Rally - Lancaster JetHawks

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