66ers, Quakes hope injuries aren't serious

In the Sixers 5-3 victory over the Quakes on Monday, both teams had key players leave the game with injuries. With today's off day the true extent probably won't be known until Wednesday.

Upland High product Michael Wing, the hottest player on the Sixers, injured his shoulder sliding into second in the fourth inning and left the game. Wing has reached base in 27 consecutive games.

"We don't really know how serious it is right now," Sixers manager Damon Mashore said. "We'll have to see."

The Quakes meanwhile, lost right fielder Ramon Jean and center fieler Anthony Jackson when they collided going after Dwayne Bailey's fly ball in the sixth inning. Manager Juan Bustabad said Jean suffered a sprained ankle and Jackson's right hand was spiked by Jean.

Bustabad didn't consider either injury to be serious. "Hopefully we won't have to put them on the DL," Bustabad said. "He (Jackson) might be available for the next game."

Outside of the injuries, the Sixers won because they made smart plays and the Quakes made dumb plays.

--Quakes' Pedro Guerrero was doubled off first on a popup to third in the fifth inning. In the sixth, with the bases loaded and no outs, Rafael Ynoa hit a fly ball to right. Austin Gallagher held at third, but Angelo Songco wandered off second and Gallagher was caught in a rundown.

"He (Songco) should've realized Gallagher was on third. We weren't going to send him," Bustabad said.

--The Sixers meanwhile, executed the 9-2-6-1 rundown perfectly. With catcher Carlos Ramirez staying calm  and shortstop Dwayne Bailey making a nice throw to Ariel Pena to get Gallagher.

--Second baseman Jon Karcich, who entered the game when Wing was hurt, made a great play in the eighth inning. Nick Buss hit a drag bunt. With first baseman Eric Oliver having to field the ball, pitcher John Wiedenbauer was late covering first. Karcich hustled over and Oliver threw to him to get Buss.

"That's a great play.  That's a smart baseball play," Mashore said.