Cokinos cracks two in 'Hawks win

First baseman finishes with perfect night, first multi-homer game

By Lindsey Webster

July 12, 2013

LANCASTER, Calif. - M.P. Cokinos went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double and three RBIs in a 10-3 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers Friday night at The Hangar.

Cokinos, Matt Duffy and Chris Epps all hit solo shots in the second inning. Duffy finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Cokinos and Duffy combined for six RBIs.

Lancaster starting pitcher Aaron West (7-5) threw six innings and gave up three runs on seven hits with a walk and five strike outs.

Cokinos led off the second inning with a solo home run over the left field wall to give the JetHawks their first run of the game. Tyler Heineman followed with a single and Telvin Nash doubled to left to score him. Back-to-back home runs by Duffy and Epps extended Lancaster's lead, 4-0.

In the fourth, Alex Yarbrough led off with a single and Brian Hernandez knocked him in to put the 66ers on the board with a run. The 66ers scored again in the fifth when Yarbrough singled to score Gary Mitchell.

Andrew Aplin, who was 2-for-3, doubled in the fifth and Cokinos whacked his second home run of the night and his ninth of the year, to put the JetHawks ahead 6-2. After Telvin Nash walked, Jairo Diaz came in to pitch for the 66ers. Brandon Meredith doubled and Duffy blooped a single to right to knock two runs in, giving the JetHawks an 8-2 lead.

In the seventh, Cokinos led off with a double, Heineman singled and Nolan Fontana had an RBI pinch-hit single. Meredith followed with a run scoring single to give the JetHawks a 10-3 lead.

Jonas Dufek tossed two scoreless innings of relief and Travis Ballew pitched a scoreless ninth to end the game.

With the win, the JetHawks (16-7, 55-38) avoided a sweep and maintained their lead in the South Division. They will take on the Modesto Nuts in the first of a three game series on Saturday night at 7:00 pm at The Hangar. Brady Rodgers (7-5, 5.00) will get the start in the series opener.

Star Wars Weekend continues with the KaBoom Jedi Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans in attendance.

Don't miss a moment of the 2013 season as the JetHawks look to repeat as California League Champions. Season tickets and great ticket packages are available now. To order, call (661) 726-5400 or visit jethawks.com.