Quakes get first win, beat 66ers, 11-6

It was far from pretty, but after two disappointing losses to start the season, the Quakes will take Saturday's 11-6 win over the 66ers.

The Quakes had 13 hits, including four by Austin Gallagher (including a double and a triple), who drove in four runs, while J.T. Wise went 3 for 5 with two runs and two RBIs and belted the team's first home run of the season. The Sixers contributed five errors leading to six unearned runs.

"We swung the bats tonight, with 13 hits," Quakes manager Juan Bustabad said. "We gave (starter JonMichael) Redding a chance to give us five good innings."

Redding (1-0), who as a member of the Sixers in 2010 went 1-1 with a 5.76 ERA in six starts against the Quakes, pitched five innings, allowing five hits and two runs while walking two and striking out four.

He liked what he saw from Wise, who will be in the lineup regularly, as a catcher, first baseman and designated hitter.

"J.T. swung the bat well. We're going to get his bat into the lineup," Bustabad said.

In the loss, Sixers manager Tom Gamboa saw some positive signs.

"We battled back tonight," Gamboa said. "Their third baseman (Tony Delmonco) said to me in the eighth inning, 'I thought we had enough runs, but you guys don't quit.' That was a compliment."

Trailing 11-2, the Sixers scored four times in the eighth inning, and had the bases loaded with Reggie Willits at the plate. Willits looked at strike three, although he didn't think it was a strike and neither did Gamboa.

The Sixers' first two batters in the ninth walked, but Scott Nestor (Bonita HS/Chaffey College) retired the next three batters to end the game.