San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino got dominant starting pitching through seven innings from Luis Pena and snapped a five-game losing streak when Cody Ramer delivered a walk-off RBI triple downing Modesto 2-1 on Thursday.Modesto's Nathan Bannister and Pena smothered the offenses in the early frames
San Bernardino, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino got dominant starting pitching through seven innings from Luis Pena and snapped a five-game losing streak when Cody Ramer delivered a walk-off RBI triple downing Modesto 2-1 on Thursday.
Modesto's Nathan Bannister and Pena smothered the offenses in the early frames until Inland Empire (26-28) pushed a run across in the fourth inning for a 1-0 lead. Kyle Survance Jr. singled to open the frame and stole second (his sixth steal in six attempts). Matt Thaiss then walked and Taylor Ward sacrificed them to second and third. Michael Barash's RBI groundout scored Survance. Bannister went 5.1 IP allowing one run on four hits with two walks and five Ks in a no-decision.
Pena was cruising as he turned in his longest outing with the Sixers. He held Modesto scoreless through seven innings giving up just a double to Chris Mariscal in the fourth and four walks, two in the seventh frame. The native of Bonao, DR struck out six batters. Samil De Los Santos took over for Pena in the eighth and surrendered a solo homer on the first pitch he through to Modesto (31-23) catcher Arturo Nieto tying the game 1-1. In the top of the ninth De Los Santos (1-0) found more trouble as he loaded the bases with one out but struck out Nieto and Ricky Eusebio to leave the bags full.
Jose Rojas, who earlier in the contest had doubled to extend his hitting streak to eight games, singled against Modesto reliever Bryan Bonnell (1-2) with one down in the bottom of the ninth. Cody Ramer followed by drilling ball to the wall in right field for a game-winning triple scoring Rojas from first base. The clubs were each 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The season series stands at 3-3.
The series continues Friday at 7:05 pm. The contest can be seen and heard live at 66ers.com.
