LANCASTER, Calif. - Peter Lambert tossed seven brilliant innings to lead the JetHawks to a 7-3 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in Game 1 of the South Division Finals. The right-hander from San Dimas retired the first eight hitters he faced and allowed just one run on seven hits.
LANCASTER, Calif. - Peter Lambert tossed seven brilliant innings to lead the JetHawks to a 7-3 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in Game 1 of the South Division Finals.
The right-hander from San Dimas retired the first eight hitters he faced and allowed just one run on seven hits. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.
Lancaster struck first in the opening frame. Brendan Rodgers singled with one out and Yonathan Daza followed with an RBI double to right-center. Rodgers was sent home and looked to be out at the plate, but obstruction was called on Quakes pitcher Caleb Ferguson and the JetHawks were awarded the run.
Rancho Cucamonga tied the game on a leadoff home run by Luke Raley in the fourth, the only run against Lambert. It remained 1-1 until the fifth, when the JetHawks re-took the lead with a pair of runs. One came home on an RBI double by Roberto Ramos.
The JetHawks added two more in the sixth on an RBI ground out by Hamlet Marte and RBI double from Chris Rabago. They scored insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Sam Hilliard delivered an RBI single and Ramos came through with a sacrifice fly to score Garrett Hampson, who had tripled earlier in the frame.
With the JetHawks up 6-1 in the eigth, Rancho Cucamonga had a runner at first with two out. DJ Peters hit a double to the gap in right center. Yonathan Daza quickly picked up the ball at the wall and fired to shortstop Brendan Rodgers, who relayed it on to Chris Rabago to nail Quincy Latimore at the plate.
The Quakes scored twice in the ninth on an RBI single by Ibandel Isabel and RBI double by Cristian Santana. Helmis Rodriguez pitched the final two innings for the JetHawks.
Rodgers and Daza each went 2-for-3 with a walk for Lancaster. Wes Rogers and Mylz Jones added two hits apiece.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Thursday night at The Hangar. Right-hander Jesus Tinoco will start against left-hander Devin Smeltzer. First pitch is 6:35 p.m.
