66ers Drop Series Opener to Mavs 7-4

Published on May 5, 2015 under California League (CalL1)
Inland Empire 66ers News Release

Adelanto, CA- The High Desert Mavericks took the first of a four game set at Heritage Field with a 7-4 win over the Inland Empire 66ers highlighted by a six-run fourth inning. The big blow in the fourth frame was High Desert shortstop Luis Marte's grand slam to left field. The Sixers fell below .500 for the first time since Opening Night as the club's record now sits at 12-13.

The 66ers got on the board in the second when LF Brandon Bayardi hammered a Frank Lopez (3-1) offering out to left. It was the Phoenix, AZ native's first homer of the campaign. The game stayed that way until the bottom of the fourth when Marte stepped to the plate with full bases and crushed IE starter Garret Nuss' offering out to left for a the grand slam. It was Marte's first dinger of the year. The trouble continued in the frame however as the 66ers defense committed two errors that led to two more runs scoring and making it a 6-1 game. Nuss (0-3) did stay in the game following the 11-batter fourth and had a perfect fifth. He went five frames, allowing 6 R, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 BB and 4 Ks.

The Sixers came back in the sixth when Lopez left the game with one and two outs. Reliever Pat Kaminska walked Angel Rosa and then surrendered a mammoth three-run homer to IE C Michael Strentz on a 3-2 change up. The homer was Strentz' second of the season. Inland Empire would get no closer while the Mavericks (12-13) tacked on an insurance run in the eighth on Carlos Arroyo's RBI double to left. Cole Swanson tossed two scoreless frames in relief for IE. Ryan Ledbetter notched his second save for the Mavs with a perfect ninth. The series continues on Tuesday at 6:35 pm. It can be heard live at 66ers.com.

Inland Empire 66ers Catcher Michael Strentz

California League Stories from May 5, 2015

• Fernandez's Leadoff Homer Extends Streak in Loss - Lancaster JetHawks
• 66ers Announce Halo Days - Inland Empire 66ers
• Rawhide Defeat Quakes in Series-Opener on Monday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
• Stockton Sends Skid to Five in Series Opener - Lancaster JetHawks
• Storm Hold off Giants, 5-4 - San Jose Giants
• 66ers Drop Series Opener to Mavs 7-4 - Inland Empire 66ers
• Blaze Sleepwalk Through 4-1 Loss - Bakersfield Blaze

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