LANCASTER, Calif. - Hamlet Marte delivered a game-winning two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the JetHawks over the Lake Elsinore Storm, 6-4, on Friday night at The Hangar. The triple capped a three-run rally in the frame and clinched the fourth straight win for the
LANCASTER, Calif. - Hamlet Marte delivered a game-winning two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the JetHawks over the Lake Elsinore Storm, 6-4, on Friday night at The Hangar.
The triple capped a three-run rally in the frame and clinched the fourth straight win for the JetHawks. All four have been comeback victories at home.
Earlier in the frame, Sam Hilliard came through with a two-out RBI single to tie the game. The big hit came against left-hander Thomas Dorminy, who was summoned into the contest to face the left-handed batter.
Dorminy remained on to face another left-handed batter, Roberto Ramos, and allowed a line drive single to send Hilliard to third. That set the stage for Marte's heroics. The triple was hit over the head of right fielder Edwin Moreno, who took a poor angle to the ball.
Both teams scored a run in each of the first two innings. Lake Elsinore got a two-out double from Austin Allen and an RBI single by Fernando Perez to go ahead, 1-0. Sam Hilliard responded for the JetHawks with an inside-the-park home run in the home half of the first. It was the second inside-the-park homer of the homestand for the JetHawks, after Garrett Hampson hit one against Visalia.
In the second, down 2-1, Marte led off for the JetHawks with a home run to left. Lancaster took its first lead on an RBI ground out by Yonathan Daza in the third.
The JetHawks held the lead until the fifth, when Lake Elsinore scored twice to surge back in front. Michael Gettys hit a long solo homer to right-center and Edwin Moreno came through with an RBI single. It remained 4-3 Lake Elsinore until the big rally by the JetHawks in the eighth.
Brandon Gold started for Lancaster and took a no-decision, breaking his streak of six consecutive quality starts. The right-hander allowed four runs on nine hits in six innings.
The JetHawks bullpen closed the game with three perfect innings. Helmis Rodriguez (4-2) retired all six hitters he faced to earn the win, striking out four. Scott Griggs set down the Storm in order in the ninth to secure his third save. He fanned two. Beginning with the first out of the eighth, Rodriguez and Griggs combined to strike out five Storm batters in a row.
Dorminy (2-3) suffered the loss in relief for Lake Elsinore. Jesse Scholtens started and went seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits.
The three-game series continues on Saturday night at The Hangar. Left-hander Ty Culbreth (4-1) will start for Lancaster against left-hander and Palmdale-native Jerry Keel (1-2). First pitch is 6:05 p.m.
