Comeback spurs JetHawks to victory

LANCASTER, Calif. - Lancaster took its first lead in the eighth inning Saturday and held on to beat Modesto 9-8 at The Hangar. The JetHawks scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to win a game they once trailed by four.

Lancaster (2-1) was down by three going into the bottom of the eighth, but the JetHawks rallied to score four on Modesto's Jack Anderson (0-1). Tyler Nevin, Alan Trejo and Carlos Herrera came through with RBI singles to tie the game before a Jeffeson Medina wild pitch allowed Trejo to score from third base. The 9-8 lead was Lancaster's first of the game.
Justin Lawrence retired the side in order in the ninth to pick up his first save of the season. Juan Pena (1-0) allowed a run in relief, but earned the victory.
Modesto (1-2) wasted no time jumping in front, scoring four runs on as many hits in the first inning against returning JetHawk Trey Killian. The righty worked into the fifth inning, allowing five runs on nine hits.
The JetHawks fought back after falling into an early hole. Tyler Nevin and Joel Diaz homered in back-to-back innings, bringing Lancaster to within one in the fifth. In the sixth, Manny Melendez tied the game at five with a sacrifice fly.
The Nuts wound up taking the lead right back in the seventh. After a two-out error, Gareth Morgan launched a home run to put Modesto on top. They added another run in the top of the eighth before Lancaster's comeback.
Nevin led the way on offense with three hits, three runs batted in and two runs scored. His fourth inning home run was his first in the California League.
The series against Modesto wraps up with a day game Sunday. Brandon Gold starts for the JetHawks. First pitch from The Hangar is at 2:05 pm.