Mitchells rainbow homer to left give him two home runs in as many days

By: Luke Foth

Modesto, CA – Inland Empire fans, as well as Dodgers fans, should be excited for the long term outlook on pitcher Francisco Felix who lost his first game with the 66ers. Felix who had been a reliever for 10 of his 13 games with the Great Lakes Loons made the start on Saturday as the Modesto Nuts (23-20) topped the 66ers (22-21) by a 7-1 final.

Felix (0-1) looked sharp allowing just one run through the first five innings while striking out four. The right-hander, who averaged approximately two and two-third innings per outing for Great Lakes just seemed to run out of gas in the sixth. He allowed a lead off homer to Dexter Fowler that hit the top of the wall and bounced over. The Mexico native gave up two more in the frame before exiting.

Chaz Roe (1-5) earned the win for the Nuts and tossed an excellent game. Roe, a top five prospects in the Rockies organization, went seven innings allowing one run on two hits and struck out three. Roe in his two outings prior to Saturday pitched a combined 14 innings and didn’t allow an earned run and couldn’t get a win in either game.

The only run of the game for Inland Empire came in the sixth when Russell Mitchell hit a towering shot down the left field line that cleared the wall. To date, that is the only homer that Roe has allowed this season.

The final game is set for 1:05 p.m. at John Thurmond Field in Modesto. Javy Guerra (1-2) will match up against Brandon Durden (2-2) as the 66ers look to leave town with one game. After an off day on Monday, the 66ers open up a rare five game series on the road in Lancaster. Inland Empire returns to San Bernardino on Sunday, May 26 to take on the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. For tickets or information call the box office at (909) 888-9922.