LANCASTER, Calif. - Scott Burcham delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the JetHawks to a 5-4 victory over the Visalia Rawhide on Thursday night at The Hangar, clinching a three-game sweep. Burcham's single was a line drive just inside of the third
LANCASTER, Calif. - Scott Burcham delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the JetHawks to a 5-4 victory over the Visalia Rawhide on Thursday night at The Hangar, clinching a three-game sweep.
Burcham's single was a line drive just inside of the third base bag. It scored Chris Rabago, who led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a Robbie Perkins sacrifice bunt. Burcham delivered an RBI double and scored a run earlier in the contest.
The JetHawks quickly fell behind 4-0 in the second inning. Jorge Flores capped the big frame with a two-run homer for the Rawhide. It was his second homer in as many games and third in the last seven.
Lancaster bounced back with three runs in the third. Burcham brought the first in with his double. Yonathan Daza delivered an RBI single, and one run came home on an error.
Visalia held the 4-3 lead until the fifth inning, when Sam Hilliard launched a two-out solo home run to center field, his 16th of the season. Three straight scoreless frames followed for both teams, before Burcham became the hero in the bottom of the ninth.
Carlos Polanco (4-5) earned the win for the JetHawks with a perfect top of the ninth inning out of the bullpen. Tommy Eveld (0-2) suffered the loss for Visalia.
Jesus Tinoco started and was charged with four runs on five hits in 6.1 innings of work. He walked five and struck out six. Only one of the five batters he walked came around to score.
Logan Cozart was summoned by the JetHawks with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh, as Visalia threatened to re-take the lead. The right-hander struck out Jason Morozowski and got Mark Karaviotis to ground out to third to end the threat and keep the game tied.
The six game homestand continues at The Hangar when the JetHawks welcome in the Lake Elsinore Storm for the opener of a three-game series on Friday night. Right-hander Brandon Gold (3-0) will start for Lancaster against right-hander Jesse Scholtens (5-5). First pitch is 6:35 p.m.
