Bates sets Cal League homer record
Aaron Bates rewrote Cal League history all by himself on Saturday.
Bates became the first player in the 66-year history of the hitter-friendly league to homer four times in one game, powering the JetHawks to a 14-12 victory over the Storm at Clear Channel Stadium.
Less than 24 hours earlier, the Storm (22-21) blew through Lancaster, amassing a near-record 28 hits in a 30-0 pounding. Lake Elsinore appeared headed to another rout on Saturday after racing to a 9-0 lead in the second inning. But Bates powered the JetHawks' comeback.
The 23-year-old first baseman went 5-for-5 with six RBIs to overshadow Storm designated hitter Kyle Blanks, who followed up a 6-for-7 performance by homering and driving in five runs.
"Both pitchers that I homered against were actually making some pretty tough pitches," Bates said. "I was more concerned about just grinding out every at-bat and making sure I was able to drive the ball. The winds in this ballpark are always blowing out, but you still have to be able to square up to the ball and put a good swing on it."
Bates cut into the JetHawks' nine-run deficit and ended a nine-game home run drought with a leadoff blast, his 10th, in the bottom of the second. He connected for his second shot in as many innings in the third, slicing the margin to 9-4.
Bates resumed his assault with a two-run homer in the fifth, and Lancaster briefly took the league with a three-run sixth that made it 11-10. But Lake Elsinore's Mike Baxter answered with a two-run homer in the seventh.
"Without question, there was a sense of urgency in our dugout," Bates noted. "Last night was a real tough loss and we wanted to put it behind us quickly. Yesterday, we couldn't get good swings, but tonight was a completely different story."
The JetHawks still trailed, 12-11, in the eighth when Zachary Daeges doubled with one out. Representing the go-ahead run, Bates sent a 2-2 fastball from reliever Steve Delabar over the right-center field wall to give Lancaster a 13-11 lead.
"That was an amazing moment," the 2006 third-round draft pick said. "It had already been an unreal last couple of days, but after that home run, it just went to a surreal level."
The go-ahead blast was Bates' 13th of the season, tying him with teammate Bubba Bell for the league lead. Bates raised his batting average to .294 with 37 RBIs and a .634 slugging percentage.
In a league that has produced Reggie Jackson, George Brett, Kirby Puckett and Ken Griffey Jr., Bates stands alone.
"It felt pretty cool out there, getting a curtain call," he said. "I wasn't sure if I should, but [hitting coach] Dave [Joppie] told me, 'Get on up there,' I did what he said.
"The most important thing, though, is that we were able to get the win. Now we can go out tomorrow and have a chance to win the series. That's the best part of the whole night."
Tony Granadillo and Scott White also homered for Lancaster. Granadillo went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored, while White was 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, a walk, a stolen base and three runs scored.
Reliever Hunter Jones (3-1) -- the only pitcher on either team who did not give up a run -- got the win after allowing a hit and two walks over two innings. He struck out four.
Blanks sparked Lake Elsinore's five-run first with a grand slam. Over his last 10 games, the 6-foot-6 slugger is hitting .405 (17-for-42) with five homers, five doubles and 20 RBIs.
Mike Baxter went 4-for-5 with a homer, three RBIs and three runs scored for the Storm.
Delabar (2-4) took the loss after surrendering three runs on two hits and a walk in one inning.
Michael Echan is a contributor to MLB.com.