Inland Empire erased an early 1-0 deficit and went on to a 4-3 win over Rancho Cucamonga on the strength of 3B Andrew Daniel‘s 4-RBI night and solid pitching in front of a holiday crowd of 7,282 in San Bernardino. Daniel hit his first homer since joining the 66ers, a two-run shot in the fourth inning that gave IE a 4-1 lead.
RHP Victor Alcantara, the Angels’ #8 prospect in MLB.com’s rankings, gave up a first-inning homer to Cody Bellinger to fall behind 1-0, but went on to pitch six strong innings. IE got two runs in the bottom of the frame and Alcantara never trailed again, giving up 4 hits, 2 ER and striking out 7 with no walks.
RHP Brian Loconsole relieved Alcantara and gave up a run in the seventh. Then Geoff Broussard came on for two dominant innings to finish the game. Broussard faced six batters and struck out five without allowing a baserunner to earn his sixth save. In 24 2/3 inning with the 66ers, Broussard has walked just 8 while striking out 45 as opponents have hit .209 against him.
The win pushed Inland Empire’s second-half record to 4-5 and brought them to within one game of the first-place Quakes and Lancaster Jethawks, both 5-4.
SCOREBOARD
LAKE ELSINORE 6, LANCASTER 5
VISALIA 7, SAN JOSE 6
MODESTO 7, HIGH DESERT 5
STOCKTON 2, BAKERSFIELD 1
The matchups continue tonight with Visalia (7-2) holding a one-game lead over Modesto and Stockton (both 6-3) in the North Division. Rancho and Lancaster are both tied atop the South with 5-4 records, IE one game back at 4-5.
