CalL1 Inland Empire 66ers

66ers Score Season-Best 11 Runs Behind Rhoades' Start

Published on July 14, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Inland Empire 66ers News Release


Rancho Cucamonga, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers set a season-high offensively while starting pitcher Jeremy Rhoades gave the Sixers 8.2 innings on the mound in a 11-6 win versus Rancho Cucamonga at LoanMart

Things did not start off well for Inland Empire (32-58, 9-11) as they went down in order against Rancho starter Felipe Gonzalez (2-4) including a double-robbing snare by third baseman Matt Beaty on a liner from Angels' OF Craig Gentry (MLB injury Rehab) to open the game. In the bottom of the first Erick Mejia opened the inning with a solo homer to right field against Rhoades, his third of the year and second versus Inland Empire. Tim Locastro then followed with a boomer out to center to make it 2-0 Quakes. It was Locastro' fourth and second against the Sixers. Rhoades would not give up another run until the ninth.

The Sixers got a run in the third when with two outs Ayendy Perez reached on an infield hit. He then stole second and third. With Gentry at first the duo pulled off a double steal of second and home to get the Sixers on the board. It was Perez' third steal of the inning and 20th of the season. The Sixers took the lead in the fourth after base hits from Zach Houchins and Roberto Baldoquin and a walk to Gentry loaded the bases. Fletcher then lifted a 2-0 fastball out to left for the grand slam and a 5-2 lead. The Sixers added four more in the fifth on RBI singles from Tim Arakawa and Perez. Zach Welz added a two-run single to make it 9-2 after pinch-hitting for Gentry.

Inland Empire got a solo shot from Hutton Moyer in the seventh, his seventh of the year and a ninth inning RBI single from Taylor Ward, his third hit of the game, to make it a season best 11 runs.

Rhoades (3-8) went out in the ninth with only 87 pitches under his belt but ended up giving up three hits and a walk before being lifted with 8.2 innings pitched. He allowed 11 hits and struck out three. It was the longest outing for a Sixers' pitcher since Ray Hanson's complete game vs Lake Elsinore on 8/5/14. Mejia ended up with a four-hit night for the Quakes (52-38, 10-10) while Locastro added three.

The series continues Thursday at 7:05 pm. The contest can be heard live at 66ers.com and 1570 AM KPRO.

Check out the Inland Empire 66ers Statistics

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California League Stories from July 14, 2016


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