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CalL1 Inland Empire 66ers

Sexton, Bullpen Shutout Storm as Road Streak Continues

July 8, 2009 - California League (CalL1)
Inland Empire 66ers News Release


LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. - Behind Tim Sexton and strong relief work, the 66ers won their sixth straight road game and dealt Lake Elsinore its first home shutout of the season with a 3-0 triumph Wednesday afternoon.

Storm starter Aaron Breit, who set a career-high with ten strikeouts in six innings of work, overmatched Inland Empire for most of the afternoon but relented in the second inning, allowing a pair of runs.

Pedro Baez led off with a single before Steve Caseres followed with a double off the wall in right. Jaime Ortiz then plated Baez with an RBI groundout before Christian Lara knocked in Caseres with a single to right.

Sexton, who was 0-4 despite a 2.61 ERA against the Storm on the season, was at his best with runners on base for the second start in a row. He stranded six runners over the first four innings before setting down the Storm in order in the fifth and sixth.

Thomas Melgarejo, pitching for the first time since April after a trip to the disabled list, relieved Sexton in the seventh after Brad Chalk and Logan Gelbrich each singled with one out. The lefthander struck out Danny Payne before Andy Parrino flied out to center, ending the threat.

Jake McCarter closed out the shutout by working the ninth for his fifth save.

Sexton (5-8) has now won four straight decisions for the first time in his career. The California League All-Star scattered six hits and a walk while striking out 6 over 6 1/3 innings to lower his ERA to 2.72, second best in the league.

Breit (0-3) was a tough-luck loser, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and reaching double-digits in strikeouts without walking a batter in his longest outing of the year.

The six-game road-winning streak is the longest since 2002, when Inland Empire won nine in a row on the road.

Inland Empire will try for its second road sweep in a row Thursday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Chris Withrow (5-5, 5.23) gets the nod for the 66ers while RHP Wynn Pelzer (7-5, 4.81) takes the hill for the Storm. The Sixers return to Arrowhead Credit Union Park on Wednesday, July 15 for a four-game series against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for all future 66ers games are available at www.66ers.com or by visiting the 66ers ticket office at 280 South E Street in San Bernardino. For more information call 909-888-9922.

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California League Stories from July 8, 2009


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