CalL1 Inland Empire 66ers

JetHawks Offense Too Much In Opener

Published on June 16, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
Inland Empire 66ers News Release


LANCASTER, Calif. - Steve Caseres hit two home runs and drove in five, but the JetHawks clubbed 17 hits and took the series opener from the 66ers, 9-7, Monday night.

The first five hitters in the Lancaster order- J.B. Shuck, Gabriel Suarez, Jon Gaston, T.J. Steel and Koby Clemens- ripped the 66ers apart, going a combined 14-for-22 with seven RBIs and all nine runs scored. Suarez (4-for-4) and Gaston (4-for-5) led the group with four hits each.

Inland Empire took a 2-0 lead off Chad Wagler in the first as Preston Mattingly tripled and Pedro Baez later singled, with an RBI ground out and sacrifice fly plating two runs.

Lancaster grabbed a 3-2 lead in the bottom half when Steel hit the first pitch from Josh Wall over the fence in left for a three-run homer.

Trailing 4-2 in the fourth, Caseres followed a Baez single with a long home run to right that evened the score.

Lancaster came right back again in the bottom half as Suarez doubled with two outs before Gaston hit his league co-leading 16th homer of the season for a 6-4 lead.

It was a tough outing for Wall (0-2), who tied a 66ers season high by allowing 11 hits and surrendered 6 runs in 5 innings while walking 2 and fanning 3. He gave up two home runs after allowing just two long balls in 28 2/3 innings on the season entering the game.

After the JetHawks added three runs in the sixth off Greg Miller and Matt Smith, the 66ers came back with a run in the seventh on Justin Fuller's solo shot in the eighth. Caseres capped the scoring with his team-leading tenth big fly of the campaign, a two-run shot in the eighth that made it 9-7.

Wagler (3-1) was credited with his second win against the 66ers in a week despite yielding 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits with a walk and a strikeout in 5 innings.

Mattingly continued his strong presence at the leadoff spot, going 3-for-5, while Baez and Caseres each racked up three hits and two runs.

Inland Empire (28-36) and Lancaster (23-41) resume hostilities Tuesday at 7 p.m. with RHP Steven Johnson (4-4, 4.21) facing RHP Chris Hicks (5-3, 5.49) on the hill. The 66ers return home Thursday, June 18 at 7:05 p.m. for Thirsty Thursday, with $1 beers and $1 sodas. For tickets or more information visit www.66ers.com, the 66ers box office at 280 South E Street in San Bernardino, or call (909) 888-9922.

Check out the Inland Empire 66ers Statistics

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California League Stories from June 16, 2009


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