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CalL1 Inland Empire 66ers

Visalia's Late Runs Sink Sixers

August 5, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Inland Empire 66ers News Release


Visalia, CA- The Visalia Rawhide took the opening game of a four-game set against the Inland Empire 66ers 7-5 on Thursday at Recreation Park. The Rawhide used a three-run bottom of the eighth inning to snap a 4-4 tie and then hung on as the Sixers scored a run in the top of the ninth and brought the tying run to the plate. The loss dropped the 66ers to 3-2 on the year against the Diamondbacks' Cal League affiliate.

Inland Empire (38-73, 15-26) took a 1-0 lead in the first when the first batter of the game Michael Hermosillo launched a missile out of the park to left. It was Hermosillo's second dinger in as many nights. Visalia answered right back as Victor Reyes tied the game in the bottom of the first with a homer off the foul pole in right field. Visalia (65-46, 19-22) took a 2-1 lead later in the inning when an errant pick-off throw by Sixers' catcher Michael Strentz led to an unearned run. Reyes pushed his club's lead to 3-1 with an RBI single in third and Marty Herum's RBI single in the fifth made it 4-1.

The 66ers tied the game in the sixth however as Hermosillo singled to open the inning and David Fletcher followed with a base hit. Hutton Moyer then reached on an infield hit to load the bases. With one out in the inning Strentz hit a potential double play ball to the shortstop but the throw to second was off the mark. Strentz was credited with an RBI and another runner came home to make it 4-3. Moyer then tied the game coming home on a wild pitch by starter Justin Donatella. Both Donatella and Inland Empire starter Jared Ruxer allowed four runs, two earned and neither figured in the decision.

Jason Hoppe gave the Sixers a pair of scoreless innings out of the pen while Gabriel Moya did the same for 1.2 innings for Visalia. Southpaw Andrew Chafin (1-0), on a MLB rehab assignment for the Diamondbacks, tossed a shutout eighth. In the bottom of the frame, Colin Bray smoked a RBI double for the Rawhide against IE reliever Winston Lavendier (1-1) to take a 5-4 lead. With two down in the inning Austin Byler hit a ball to left that was played into a two-run triple making it 8-4. The Sixers got a run in the ninth after Strentz and Jeff Boehm each singled to open the inning against Cameron Gann. Strentz, who extended his hit streak to 12 games, eventually scored but Gann fanned pinch hitter Zach Houchins to secure his fifth save.

The series continues Friday at 7:00 pm. It can be heard live at 66ers.com and 1570 AM KPRO. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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California League Stories from August 5, 2016


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