Early Lead Not Enough Friday

LANCASTER, Calif. - Lancaster jumped out to an early four-run lead, but could not hold on in a 7-5 loss to the Modesto Nuts at The Hangar Friday night. The Nuts amassed 14 hits to hand the JetHawks their first loss of the season.

Lancaster (1-1) scored in the first two innings for the second-straight night. Willie Abreu singled with one out, and scored later on in the inning thanks to a Modesto error.
Modesto (1-1) tied the game with a run in the top of the second, but the JetHawks pushed four across in the bottom of the inning. Alan Trejo, Max George, Forrest Wall and Abreu each picked up an RBI to put Lancaster on top 5-1.
That was it for Lancaster's offense, as the JetHawks were held scoreless over the final seven innings. Aríel Miranda (1-0) allowed five runs, but only was earned in a winning effort for the southpaw.
The Nuts cut the deficit to one in the third inning on an Anthony Jimenez three-run home run, and then tied it in the fourth on a solo blast off the bat of Donnie Walton. The visitors took the lead for good on a wild pitch in the fifth.
For Lancaster, Matt Dennis (0-1) took the defeat in his California League debut. The righty worked into the sixth inning, allowing seven runs on 10 hits.
Both bullpens were fantastic in the game. Salvador Justo and Alexander Guillen combined to throw 3.2 scoreless innings for the JetHawks. Modesto got four shutout frames from their relief corps, with Wyatt Mills picking up the save.
The top three hitters in Lancaster's lineup-Forrest Wall, Willie Abreu, Colton Welker-picked up a pair of knocks in the loss. Wall tripled twice in the contest.
Game three in the first series of the season is Saturday night. Returning righty Trey Killian is scheduled to start for the JetHawks. First pitch at The Hangar is at 6:05 pm.