Sixers Notch Three Homers, Hang On for 9-8 Win at Lancaster

Lancaster, CA- The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino downed the Lancaster JetHawks 9-8 at the Hangar on Wednesday to earn their first three-game win streak of the year and move into a first-place tie in the Cal League's Southern Division. The 66ers tallied a season-best three homers in the win but for the second consecutive night had to hang on to a robust lead as Inland Empire (16-17) carried a 9-1 advantage into the seventh.
The JetHawks (16-17) took a 1-0 lead in the first against IE starter Alex Klonowski (1-1) but he left the bases loaded and then did not allow another over his next five innings of work. The Kearney, MO native allowed the one run on five hits with three walks and three Ks. Meanwhile the Sixers on the board in the second against righty Logan Longwirth (1-3) as two runs came in on a two-base error by Lancaster 3B Colton Welker. Luis Rengifo then singled in a run for a 3-1 advantage. In the fourth the Sixers struck again as Jack Kruger connected for a two-run homer to dead center; his second homer of the year made it 5-1. Jared Walsh then smashed a solo shot to right, his seventh dinger, for a 6-1 advantage. In the fifth Alberto Truinfel launched a three-run homer to left, his first, for a 9-1 advantage. The JetHawks chiseled the Sixers lead down to 9-8 by the eighth inning but Zac Ryan stranded two on base in the eighth and then had a perfect ninth for his first save of the year. Forrest Wall was 3-for-4 with a double and two walks for the JetHawks while eight of the Sixers' nine batters had hits in the contest. Brandon Sandoval and Kruger each had two-hit nights for the Sixers who improved to 10-5 in one-run games.
The series concludes at Lancaster on Thursday at 6:35 pm. The contest can be heard live at 66ers.com.