Quakes let one slip away; 66ers hold on

Mavericks 6, Quakes 4 (10)

The Quakes (35-44 overall, 5-4 second half) were one strike away from their fifth straight victory in one-run games on Saturday, but it slipped away.

Trailing 4-3 in the ninth, the Mavericks (37-42, 5-4) loaded the bases with two outs on a single a walk and a hit batter against Brian Chambers (0-2). Then on a 2-2 pitch to Kuo Hui Lo, the ball got away from catcher Flint Wipke for a passed ball, allowing the tying run to score. But it was a crazier play than the box score indicates. With the run already in, Wipke threw down to third to try and get Leury Bonilla rounding third and the ball bounced away and apparently into the Quakes’ dugout allowing a go-ahead run to score. But plate umpire David Trinidad said time had been called and sent the runners back to second and third despite protests from Mavericks manager Jim Horner. Also on the play, Quakes third baseman Larry Infante was injured and had to be replaced by Carlos Colmenares. Lo then struck out, and the game remained tied.

The Quakes had a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth when Peter Bourjos singled with two outs and stole second, but P.J. Phillips grounded out to third to send the game into extra innings.

In the 10th, Carlos Peguero and Chris Minaker had back-to-back one-out singles against Chambers and Jamie McOwen followed with a two-run double against Jordon Towns to give the Mavericks the victory.

The Quakes had built a 4-1 lead on Abel Nieves’ two-run single in the third and Mark Trumbo’s 19th homer, a two-run shot to center in the fifth.

66ers 7, Lancaster 6

Drew Locke’s two-run single snapped a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning and the Sixers (37-42, 6-3) won a second straight game on the road to move into sole possession of first place in the South Division.

Tommy Giles also drove in two runs for the Sixers and David Pfeiffer (1-2) won by allowing one run in four-plus innings of relief. Joe Jones allowed one earned runs in the final two innings for his second save.

Tommy Giles also had two RBI for the Sixers.