66ers beat Quakes in slugfest, 18-8

The 66ers have feasted on Quakes pitching this season, and on Wednesday, it got to an extreme.

The Sixers scored in double digits against the Quakes for the fourth time this season, pounding out 21 hits and scoring in each of the first five innings for an 18-8 victory at the Epicenter on Wednesday. The victory gave the Sixers (8-5 second half) sole possession of first place in the South Division second half race, one game ahead of the Quakes (7-6).

The Quakes' ERA against the Sixers this season rose to 6.10 and the 21 hits allowed represented a season high for a Quakes opponent. The Sixers lead the season series, 9-8.

Drew Locke was 4-for-5 with five runs and four RBI, Tommy Giles was 4-for-6 with two runs and four RBI, Jaime Pedroza was 3-for-5 with four runs and an RBI, and Carlos Santana was 3-for-7 with four runs and three RBI for the Sixers. It was Locke's first four RBI game since July 4, 2006.

But the most critical performance was that of right-hander Joe Jones (3-3), who pitched 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief. Starter Josh Wall had a four-run lead before he took the mound and a 10-4 lead going to the bottom of the fourth but couldn't go long enough to earn the win.  Wall went 3 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs.

Quakes starter Jeremy Haynes (0-1) was rocked as well, allowing eight hits and eight runs (seven earned) in 2 1/3 innings.

Marco Albano was the only one of six Quakes pitchers who didn't allow a run when he pitched a scoreless ninth. Even rehabbing major leaguer Chris Bootcheck allowed three earned runs in 1 2/3 innings.

The Quakes managed 10 hits, including two apiece by Peter Bourjos, Ryan Mount, Wil Ortiz and Anthony Norman. Bourjos doubled and tripled and scored twice, while Mount was 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBI.