Boyd fuels JetHawks rout with nine RBIs

It took Bobby Boyd 121 at-bats, 28 games and seven weeks to drive in eight runs. He surpassed his RBI total for the season in less than four hours Thursday. So how long does the JetHawks' leadoff man think it will take for him to drive in another nine runs?

"Based on how my career has been, I'd say about two years or so," Boyd said.

The Astros outfield prospect set a career high with nine RBIs and hit his first professional grand slam to lead Class A Advanced Lancaster to a record-breaking 29-11 win over visiting Stockton. The teams combined for 38 hits and nine homers, including a season-high seven by the JetHawks.

"Honestly, I'm still kind of shocked to see all of the hits, the runs and just how many guys had good games," Boyd said. "The game just kept going on and on and on. It was crazy. I've never been a part of anything like that."

Gameday box score

Neither had Lancaster, which set a franchise record by scoring 29 runs, including one eight-run inning and two seven-run frames. Much of it was spearheaded by Boyd, who also tied his career bests with four hits and three runs scored.

Although the 23-year-old flied to left field to lead off the bottom of the first inning, he doubled to left in the second for his first RBI of the night. In the third, he plated two more runs with his second double, this time to right, and scored on Garrett Stubbs' sacrifice fly.

In the fourth, Boyd delivered again by lining a two-run single to right. He trotted home on Ramón Laureano's grand slam. After grounding out in his next two plate appearances, Boyd capped his career night with his own slam in the bottom of the seventh, taking Rob Huber deep to right-center.

"I think I hit a grand slam in high school," he said. "I had faced [Huber] the inning before, so I knew what he had. He tried to get ahead with a fastball and I reacted to that. I put a good swing on it. I can only hope to have another night like this, especially as a leadoff man. Honestly, I think I'll leave the RBIs to our big hitters. I'll stick with getting on base and setting the table for them. It's hard enough to do that."

Boyd wasn't the only JetHawk to enjoy a momentous night at the plate. Jason Martin went yard and set career highs with five hits, four runs scored and six RBIs, giving him 10 in his last three games. Bryan Muniz homered twice, driving in four runs and scoring four times. Brooks Marlow and Stubbs also joined the home run parade for Lancaster.

"I hadn't looked at the box score," Boyd said. "But I know several of our guys really had terrific games. Top to bottom, everyone had a good night and I couldn't be happier. Most importantly because we got the win, but also for everyone to have a night like this and to be able to celebrate together. There was no one on our side who felt left out after this game."

Stockton's James Harris delivered his third four-hit game of the season and drove in three runs. Both he and teammate Sandber Pimentel fell a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.