Lancaster pitching surrenders four home runs in loss

J.T. Wise smacked a three-run home run in the top of the fifth and drove in four runs as Rancho Cucamonga defeated the JetHawks 9-6 at Clear Channel Stadium Friday. Jose Altuve went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs to raise his California League-leading batting average to .415.

Rancho Cucamonga seized the early lead with three runs off JetHawks stater Jake Buchanan in the top of the first. The Quakes got RBI singles from Wise and Angelo Songco en route to taking a 3-0 lead.

Buchanan got into a rhythm after the first and tossed three consecutive scoreless frames. In the meantime, Lancaster got back in the ballgame with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Austin Wates ripped an RBI triple that scored Kody Hinze and Jonathan Meyer followed with an RBI single, which made it a 3-2 contest.

But Wise blasted a 1-0 pitch over the right field wall in the top of the fifth, which extended Rancho Cucamonga's lead to 6-2.

Lancaster never folded as the JetHawks scored a run in both the fifth and sixth innings off Quakes starter Andres Santiago. Altuve belted a two-run homer off Rancho Cucamonga reliever Robert Romero in the bottom of the seventh, which reduced the deficit to 7-6.

But Shawn Tolleson tossed two scoreless innings and the Quakes added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to seal the victory. Buchanan (3-3) allowed eight hits and seven earned runs in six innings pitched. Santiago (1-1) earned the win for Rancho Cucamonga and Tolleson picked up his third save.

The JetHawks fell to 19-29 are now ten games out of first place in the California League Southern Division standings. Rancho Cucamonga improved to 29-19.

The JetHawks will try to bounce back with a win when the two teams meet Saturday night at 7. Right-hander Bobby Doran (1-3, 9.69 ERA) gets the start for Lancaster while the Quakes are expected to counter with right-hander Arismendy Ozoria (0-1, 8.31 ERA). Tune in to [email protected] and FM 87.7 Kickin' Country for all the live action beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. It's a Beach Bag Giveaway night at the Hangar with the first 1,500 fans in attendance receiving a free beach bag courtesy of Antelope Valley Partners for Health, United We Mentor and IZIGG Mobile Media.

Ticket packages for the 2011 season are currently available. To lock in your seats, call (661) 726-5400 or visit www.JetHawks.com.