CalL1 Inland Empire 66ers

66ers Stunned in Modesto

Published on July 14, 2011 under California League (CalL1)
Inland Empire 66ers News Release


Modesto, CA- A four game road winning streak proved just out of the 66ers grasp as Kiel Roling's ninth inning game winning single was just outside the range of Inland Empire (39-51, 7-13), giving Modesto (43-47, 10-10) a 5-4 walk off victory. Modesto raced out to a three run lead in the second inning, but the 66ers weren't about to let the game get away from them. In the top of the third the 66ers fired right back with five consecutive batters batting themselves aboard. Michael Wing began the rally with a double, extending his California League leading hit streak (among active streaks by active players) to 17 games. Then Matt Long sent a ball over the wall for his 12th home run of the year and his fourth in the last 10 games. That was followed by successive hits by Kole Calhoun, Eric Oliver and Casey Haerther, the last of which scored the tying run.

That's when Inland Empire's bullpen came in to match Modesto zero for zero through the middle innings. Mike Kenney put forth one of his strongest outings of the season, pitching 3 2/3 innings while allowing just two hits. Kenney recorded four strikeouts on the night, matching his season high from back in April, the last of which he had to work extra to get. He appeared to strikeout Nuts catcher Beau Seabury on an 0-2 pitch but did not get the call. After Seabury fought to make it a 3-2 count, Kenney came back to freeze the catcher and cap the performance in style.

Inland Empire would take its first lead of the night in the eighth inning. With one out Carlos Ramirez walked and with Adam Younger at the plate took off towards second. Younger hit a ball to shallow right that could have turned into a double play with Ramirez running hard on the play, but the ball found fair territory just outside the range of the Nuts defense and the hit and run single set up Steven Irvine with runners on the corners and just one away. Irvine came through with an RBI single to left and Inland Empire led 4-3.

But in the ninth Modesto was able to make up the difference. Matt Oye entered his third straight game with a scoreless innings streak of over nine frames, but he walked Scott Robinson to start the ninth and then allowed a one out double to Josh Rutledge to put the tying run at third and the winner in scoring position as well. Lake Forest, California product Nolan Arenado was able to tie the game with a sac fly to left, which was followed by a walk.

The 66ers called on Kevin Johnson to try to send the game to extras. He faced Kiel Rolling who hit a ball to right field that was just outside the grasp of right fielder Matt Long. Long was able to get glove on the ball, but it narrowly slipped away, and the Nuts scored the winner on the walk off single.

The 66ers will try to bounce back Thursday night in Modesto. Ariel Pena will have the hill for his first start since being named California League Pitcher of the Week after striking out 14 High Desert Mavericks on Friday. The first pitch of Thursday's matchup is set for 7:05 pm and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians pre-game show begins at 6:55 pm on AM 1050 KCAA. The 66ers return home Wednesday, July 20th for a three game homestand. Group tickets are still available, for more information on 66ers tickets or to schedule your next fun filled group outing, contact the 66ers front office at (909)888-9922.

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California League Stories from July 14, 2011


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