JetHawks avoid Cal League sweep

Thanks to some timely hitting, the Lancaster JetHawks are still alive in the California League Championship Series.

Aaron Reza's RBI single keyed a three-run seventh inning Saturday as Lancaster defeated the Stockton Ports, 8-6, to avoid a sweep in the best-of-5 Finals.

"It's a big win for us," said Reza. "We've still got an elimination game [Sunday], but we've got some momentum, so hopefully, it will carry over."

The JetHawks dropped the first two games of the series on the road and squandered a three-run lead and a pair of one-run cushions in this one. But they came through in the seventh and will host Game 4 at Clear Channel Stadium.

Zak Farkes hit a leadoff double and was replaced by pinch-runner Reid Engel. Reza, who went 2-for-4, promptly singled to center to produce the go-ahead run. Reza scored on Kris Negron's sacrifice fly and Yamaico Navarro capped the rally with another RBI base hit.

"I was showing bunt the pitch before [the hit] and then they let me swing away, figuring I would get a fastball," Reza explained. "Fortunately, it worked out."

Mike Jones went 2-for-5 with a three-run double for the JetHawks and is batting .433 in the playoffs.

Kyle Fernandes (1-2) got the win, despite allowing one run on one hit and one walk while fanning three in 1 1/3 frames. Jason Blackey struck out one over 1 1/3 perfect innings to notch his second postseason save.

Stockton's Josh Donaldson belted a two-run homer in the seventh that forged a 5-5 tie and is hitting .405 in the playoffs.

Michael Benacka (1-2) was charged with three runs on four hits and a walk with one strikeout in one inning.