Tucker's game-winner ends wild one

'Hawks pound season-high 19 hits to avoid sweep in slugfest

By Jason Schwartz

May 21, 2013

LANCASTER, Calif. - Preston Tucker hit a ball of the left field fence with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to score Carlos Perdomo and give the JetHawks a 13-12 walk-off win against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Tuesday afternoon at The Hangar.

The game, which featured six lead changes, lasted over three hours and 30 minutes, the JetHawks' second-longest game of the season.

Tucker's hit capped a big day for Lancaster's outfield. Andrew Aplin, Chris Epps and Tucker combined for nine RBIs.

After starter Kyle Hallock allowed five runs in the top of the first, including three on a Jon Garcia home run, Aplin hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning to put Lancaster on the board. Quakes starter James Campbell was removed with two outs due to injury and Chris Epps whacked a two-run double against his replacement Freddie Cabrera.

Lancaster tied it up on a Carlos Perdomo RBI-groundout in the second. He gave them the lead with a sac-fly in the fourth.

Hallock settled in to toss five innings without allowing a run over his final four. He retired 10 of the last 11 hitters he faced.

Tandem starter Luis Cruz walked three batters and gave up a two run double to Angelo Songco in the sixth inning to give the Quakes the lead.

Lancaster responded in the bottom of the inning. Aplin doubled in two runs and Matt Duffy and Tucker each added RBIs to put the JetHawks on top, 10-8.

Cruz was unable to hold onto the lead in the seventh. Scott Schebler led off with an inside-the-park home run and after a couple hit batters, Ryan Mount tagged a double to put Rancho Cucamonga ahead. The double came against reliever Jonas Dufek who entered the game when Cruz was pulled with one out in the inning.

The Quakes added a run in the eighth to take a two run lead only to have the JetHawks tie the game with two of their own. Epps doubled in Duffy who had been hit by a pitch to start the inning and Ryan McCurdy picked up Tucker, who had doubled, on a ground out.

Travis Ballew (2-1) set the side down in order in the ninth to keep the game tied heading into the last of the ninth. Perdomo led off with a single, Aplin doubled and Duffy was intentionally walked to load the bases. Tucker hit the second Dan Coulombe (0-1) pitch to the wall in left for the game-winner.

The JetHawks (25-20) host Inland Empire in the first of a four game series on Thursday night at 7:00 pm.

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.