Inland Empire had a four-run inning to build a lead, then pulled away with a six-run inning as they beat Visalia 11-2 on Saturday night at Valley Strong Ballpark. The 2-5 hitters did plenty of damage with nine RBIs, led by Edgar Quero who homered (5) and Werner Blakely who drove in three.
Quero got the scoring started with a first-inning blast, his third of the series. Visalia answered in the bottom of the first when Wilderd Patino singled, advanced to second on a Deyvison De Los Santos single, stole third and finally came home on a wild pitch.
The scoring stopped for the next two innings but there was plenty of action. Visalia starter Liam Norris (L, 0-2) loaded the bases with no outs in both the second and third innings and got out of it both times. He used a strikeout/6-4-3 DP to escape the second inning jam and a 1-2-3 DP/strikeout combo to get out of the third with the game still tied 1-1.
Meanwhile Inland Empire starter Julio Goff (W, 4-2) was rolling on his way to four straight scoreless innings following the first-inning run. He got all the support he would need when the 66ers chased Norris from the game in the fourth inning and put up four runs.
Jeremy Arocho led off the top of the fourth with a double and Norris wild-pitched him to third. Vojtech Mensik struck out and Norris was lifted for Adrian Del Moral after 68 pitches (42 strikes), having allowed 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 6.
Del Moral got a strikeout for the second out and then walked a man to set up first and third with two outs. Quero then flew out to centerfield to ostensibly end the inning, but catcher’s interference was called and the bases were loaded.
Arol Vera made it hurt with a double to left field that drove in two runs to make it 3-1, Inland Empire. Blakely singled in two more to make it 5-1. Visalia scratched for a run in the sixth inning to pull to within 5-2 but then Inland Empire pulled away with a six-run eighth inning.
Goff went 5 1/3 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts. The 22-year old from Panama is second in the league in strikeouts with 65, wins (4), batting average against (.207) and fourth in the league in WHIP (1.18).
Liam Norris went 3 1/3 innings and allowed 2 ER on 3 hits and 4 walks with 6 strikeouts. Norris threw 68 pitches, 42 for strikes over 3 1/3 innings with 3 hits allowed, 4 walks and 6 strikeouts.
Visalia has won three of the first five games in the series. The finale goes Sunday at 1PM.
SCOREBOARD
STOCKTON – 4
SAN JOSE – 8
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FRESNO – 3
MODESTO – 4
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LAKE ELSINORE – 3
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 2
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