Lake Elsinore, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino received a brilliant pitching performance from starter Luis Pena in a 4-1 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm on Sunday. Pena was masterful as he tossed a nine-inning complete game allowing just one run and struck out a career-high 12
Lake Elsinore, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino received a brilliant pitching performance from starter Luis Pena in a 4-1 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm on Sunday. Pena was masterful as he tossed a nine-inning complete game allowing just one run and struck out a career-high 12 batters.
The game was scoreless through two innings as Lake Elsinore starter Logan Allen (0-1) was making his Cal League debut and was impressive. In the third however he threw away Troy Montgomery's chopper and the 66ers' speedster motored all the way to third. Jose Rojas then lashed a single to left giving the Sixers a 1-0 lead on an unearned run and extending Rojas' hitting streak to a dozen games. The Storm (39-42, 4-7) tied the game in the fourth when Edwin Moreno singled and then scored from first on Javier Guerra's double to left-center. Guerra was the last visitor to the base paths as Pena sat down the next 16 consecutive batters to finish the game. Inland Empire loaded the bases in the seventh against Allen aided by another error and the 20-year-old was relieved by Jose Ruiz. The converted catcher got back-to-back- Ks but Rojas stood in and ripped a three-run triple to right for a 4-1 Inland Empire (37-44, 7-4) advantage.
Pena (4-8) mesmerized the Storm as he tossed the 66ers first nine-inning complete game since Ray Hanson's gem on August 5, 2014, oddly enough also at The Diamond versus Lake Elsinore. Pena's stat line was even more impressive as the Bonoa, DR native did not walk a single batter and threw just 99 pitches to complete his effort. The Sixers got two-hit games from Brennon Lund, Montgomery, Rojas and Connor Justus with Justus chipping in a double. Justus, Montgomery and Jordan Serena all had a stolen base.
The series concludes Monday at 6:30 pm. The contest can be heard live at 66ers.com.
