Moon's shots help lift Appel to first win

Chan Moon wasn't trying to hit home runs on what turned out to be the biggest offensive night of his career Friday. It just happened to go that way.

Moon blasted a pair of three-run shots for his first career multi-homer game as Class A Advanced Lancaster thumped Lake Elsinore, 13-5. The romp gave 2013 first overall Draft pick and Astros No. 2 prospect Mark Appel his first win of the season.

From the leadoff spot, Moon became the story early. With two on and two out in the bottom of the second inning, he helped erase a three-run deficit with his first California League homer. An inning later, Moon was up again in a big spot for the JetHawks.

"The second one was kind of the same situation," he said. "Two outs, runners at second and third, but it was a different count at 2-2. I didn't try to hit bombs; I just don't want to strike out [there], so I tried a contact swing.

"It was two strikes, so I'm looking for everything. I was thinking a little bit about a fastball. He threw a slider down [earlier], so I was thinking a fastball was coming."

Moon connected with Storm reliever Cody Hebner's offering and sent a no-doubt shot out to right field.

"When I swung, it felt good, but running, I saw the right fielder -- he didn't move," Moon said with a laugh. "Then, I knew."

The six RBIs were a career high for the 23-year-old shortstop on a night that saw Lancaster go 6-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Moon has started the last four games after Astros top prospect Carlos Correa suffered a fractured fibula last week. He boasted only six professional home runs entering Friday night, including two this season for Class A Quad Cities.

The JetHawks provided a comfortable margin for Appel (1-3), who went five innings for the second consecutive start after accomplishing that feat just once over the season's first two months. The Stanford product allowed three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out three, facing one batter over the minimum over his final three innings.

Lancaster has won two in a row following a five-game losing streak.

Lake Elsinore starter Coby Cowgill (1-1) surrendered 10 runs -- five earned -- on six hits and three walks while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings.