SAN JOSE, Calif. - Rico Garcia gave the JetHawks six solid innings, but Lancaster's bats could muster only two late runs in a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Giants on Friday night at Municipal Stadium. Garcia (4-3) delivered his fourth quality start of the season, allowing three runs (two earned)
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Rico Garcia gave the JetHawks six solid innings, but Lancaster's bats could muster only two late runs in a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Giants on Friday night at Municipal Stadium.
Garcia (4-3) delivered his fourth quality start of the season, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits. He struck out six without issuing a walk to up his league-leading strikeout total to 52. His 49.0 innings pitched overall are also the most in the league.
Down by three runs in the eighth inning, the JetHawks (16-19) once again began to rally back, but, for the third time in the last four games, fell short by a run. Vince Fernandez singled home two runs to spoil San Jose's shutout but was left on base to end the inning. Lancaster left eight runners in the game and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Patrick Ruotolo, who gave up the two runs in the eighth inning, struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning for his fifth save.
Matt Winn slugged a two-out two-run home run off Garcia in the second inning to put San Jose (21-14) on the board. They added an unearned run in the third inning to account for their total offensive output.
Rayan González, who joined Lancaster on a rehab assignment before the game, tossed a scoreless seventh inning in his first action since 2016. The former Cal Leaguer (Modesto) and Rockies 40-man roster member is working back from Tommy John surgery.
Raffi Vizcaino (3-2) struck out a season-high nine batters to pick up the win for the Giants.
With the loss, Lancaster has now lost a season-high four in a row and six of their last seven games. They dropped to three games under .500 for the first time this season.
The series continues on Saturday evening in San Jose. Ty Culbreth is scheduled to make his JetHawks season debut on the mound against Melvin Adon. First pitch is 5 p.m.
