A five-run second innings put the Inland Empire 66ers on top for good in a 9-3 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm Saturday night. The homestanding Storm yielded first place in the South division as IE has won four of the first five games of the series.
3B Jeremy Arocho started the scoring for the visiting 66ers with a 2-RBI single. 2B Jeremiah Jackson (Los Angeles Angels’ #6 prospect) doubled in three more runs to make it a five spot for the 66ers.
The Storm came back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the second. LF Matthew Acosta tripled in two runs followed by an RBI groundout by C Gilberto Vizcarra.
The Storm were done scoring but the 66ers were not.
Inland Empire got three more runs in the seventh inning and tacked on another in the ninth for a final of 9-3. The win moved IE (6-4) into first place, 1/2 game ahead of Lake Elsinore (6-5).
RHP Justin Courtney (1-0) went three scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Courtney allowed three hits and no walks while striking out six.
SCOREBOARD
MODESTO – 9
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 7
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The Modesto Nuts stayed hot with their fourth straight win over Rancho Cucamonga to keep pace with Fresno atop the North division. LF Cade Marlowe had a double and a homer (3) and SS Noelvi Marte, the Seattle Mariners’ #7 prospect, had two more hits and is now hitting .367/.426/.977.
VISALIA – 4
FRESNO – 14
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The Grizzlies scored in every inning except the first and broke open a close game and stayed perfect at home with a 14-4 win over the struggling Visalia Rawhide. Zac Veen, the Colorado Rockies’ top prospect, had two hits and drove in three to lead Fresno’s 14-hit attack. SS Ezequiel Tovar (#20 Rockies prospect) had two hits and an RBI and RHP Robinson Hernandez (1-0) went two scoreless innings for the win, giving up no hits and one walk while striking out three.
SAN JOSE – 2
STOCKTON – 0
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CF Luis Matos drove in both Giants runs, with a single and a sac fly, as three Giants pitchers blanked the Stockton Ports 2-0. Matos (#7 San Francisco Giants prospect) is now hitting .381/.391/1.010. Prelander Berroa (3 2/3 IP), Luis Moreno (3 1/3) and Chris Wright (2) scattered five hits and combined to strike out 11 Ports batters while walking four.
