SAN BERNARDINO -Pitching, hitting and defense? The 66ers have not frequently done all three well in the same game, but on Saturday they did.
Eduardo Perez drove in three runs, the Sixers played error-free ball and three pitchers combined to allow one run in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Giants before 2,682 at Arrowhead Credit Union Park on Saturday.
It was particularly impressive because the victory by the Sixers (10-20) came against a Giants (19-11) team with the second-best record in the league.
Josh Wall (2-1) allowed five hits and the one run in five innings, while walking two and striking out three. It was the second straight impressive outing from Wall since allowing 10 earned runs in 1 2/3 innings at Visalia April 23.
Relievers Javy Guerra and Jordan Pratt followed and didn’t exhibit any of the wildness that has plagued them at times in their careers. Guerra pitched two shutout innings, allowing only two hits, while Pratt (first career save) pitched two perfect innings, striking out the final four batters he faced.
The Sixers got on the board quickly, when Bridger Hunt led off the first inning by reaching on an error and Trayvon Robinson walked. With out, Eduardo Perez’s hit-and-run double scored both runners for a 2-0 lead.
They added to the lead in the third inning when Robinson singled with one out and Josh Bell doubled him to third. Perez’s sacrifice fly made it 3-0.
San Jose got on the board in the fourth, but it could’ve been more.
Pablo Sandoval and Andy D’Alessio led off with singles. Bobby Felmy put down a bunt, but the Giants thought it was foul. Plate umpire Masaki Nonaka ruled the bunt fair, and the Sixers turned a 2-5-3 double play.
That proved big because Mike Mooney followed with a single to center that scored D’Alessio, but that was the only run the Giants would score.
Matt Berezay led off with a triple in the fourth inning and Gabriel Gutierrez’s single made it 4-1.
The Sixers left three runners in scoring position in their final four at-bats but it didn’t make a difference. The Sixers pinned the loss on San Jose starter Jesse English (3-2), who entered the game with a 2.70 ERA.
LANCASTER 10, QUAKES 3
Mark Trumbo (sixth) and Anthony Norman (fourth) each homered, but Lancaster (13-17) pounded out 15 hits in a rout of the Quakes (10-20) before 5,618 at the Epicenter on Saturday.
Jon Still had three hits, including his eighth home run of the season to lead the JetHawks.
Quakes starter Amalio Diaz (1-3) allowed four earned runs on nine hits in five innings and was pinned with the loss. The Quakes also made three errors that led to four unearned runs.