JetHawks smash Sixers, finish off sweep

LANCASTER, Calif. - The Lancaster JetHawks finished off a sweep and a perfect homestand with a 16-9 win over Inland Empire at The Hangar Thursday night. The win was Lancaster's sixth in a row, giving them their longest winning streak of 2018.

Inland Empire (26-21, 59-58) jumped in front briefly, hitting consecutive home runs in the top of the first inning. The JetHawks answered in the bottom of the inning. Colton Welker's RBI single got Lancaster on the board and extended his hitting streak to 19 games, putting him in a tie for the longest in the Cal League this year.
Tyler Nevin followed with a two-run home run to put Lancaster (30-17, 63-54) up a run. It was the lone home run for Lancaster in the game. Nevin was one of two JetHawks to drive in four runs.
The JetHawks went up, 6-2, after the second inning, but Inland Empire came back to tie the game in the third inning. The 66ers took a brief lead, 8-7, in the top of the fourth before the JetHawks put them away.
Joel Diaz played a big role in Lancaster pulling away. He put the JetHawks on top for good with an RBI single in the fourth inning, and added a three-run double in the fifth. The catcher was Lancaster's other player to drive in four Thursday.
The offense scored in seven of eight innings, piling up 19 hits. Eight of nine starters had at least one hit, with Alan Trejo and Bret Boswell each accounting for four. The team also set a new season-high with seven stolen bases.
Salvador Justo (4-1) pitched 2.2 scoreless innings behind starter Logan Longwith to get the win. Inland Empire's Eduardo Rivera (1-4) allowed five runs in relief.
The JetHawks wrapped up a perfect 6-0 homestand with the victory. They swept South Division rivals Rancho Cucamonga and Inland Empire. Lancaster is now four games up on the 66ers in the standings, and they trail Rancho by just three games in the Second Half. The six-game wining streak is the team's longest of the season.
Lancaster hits the road for a three-game weekend series in Rancho Cucamonga. Antonio Santos (2-1) is set to start the opening contest Friday night for the JetHawks. The action at LoanMart Field starts at 7:05 pm.