Offense cracks Quakes bullpen in comeback
Trailing 7-6, Lancaster sent nine batters to the plate in the sixth against reliever Freddie Cabrera (1-3). Jonathan Meyer drove in the game-tying run with a pinch-hit single and after Ben Orloff walked to load the bases, George Springer picked up the winning run on a bases loaded walk. Erik Castro picked up two RBIs, Rafael Valenzuela drove in one and Telvin Nash knocked in another to finish the six run rally.
The Quakes had jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against Tyson Perez who suffered his worst start of the season. Perez allowed back-to-back home runs in the first inning to C.J. Retherford and Michael Pericht to fall behind 3-0.
Castro scored a run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first to get the JetHawks on the board. The first baseman went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs a day after posting a career-high six RBIs with three runs and a homer.
The JetHawks took a one run lead in the bottom of the second against Quakes starter Brandon Martinez. Ben Heath drove in Enrique Hernandez after he led off the inning with a double. After Grant Hogue reached on a single, Orloff drove but runners home. Hogue scored from first base on the single a day after Springer came all the way around from first on a single in Visalia.
Perez failed to hold the lead in the third. He gave up a three-run home run to Jonathan Garcia to put the Quakes back on top. They added another run in the fourth to go up 7-4.
Ben Heath got Lancaster within a run in the fourth with a two-run home run, his second homer of the season. Heath finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBIs and he tied a JetHawks season-high with three runs scored.
Jose Trinidad (4-2) tossed three scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win. He allowed three runs and struck out two. Brian Streilein, Andrew Robinson and Kirk Clark also made appearances. Streilein gave up one run in the seventh.
The JetHawks were forced to make numerous changes during the game. Domingo Santana injured his right hamstring running out a ground ball to third in the third inning and will be re-evaluated on Sunday morning.
Hogue was ejected in the fourth for arguing a check-swing strikeout. With Meyer starting the game on the bench while nursing a sore hand, Lancaster ended up with Hernandez in right field and Valenzuela at third, the first they played at those positions this season. Hernandez made a diving catch a threw a runner out at second while Valenzuela was perfect on two chances.
Reliever Robinson was forced to make an at-bat and struck out. Nash who started the game as the designated hitter, had to move into left field.
The JetHawks (29-27) will take on the Quakes (27-29) in game two of the series Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm. Jorge De Leon (0-5, 9.67) will start against first round pick Chris Reed (1-4, 3.09) at The Hangar.
Great JetHawks ticket packages and single game tickets are on sale now. Special group discounts are also available. For more information please visit www.jethawks.com or call the JetHawks box office at (661) 726-5400.