Lancaster scores seven unanswered runs in victory
The Storm grabbed the early lead with a run off JetHawks starter Zach Grimmett in the bottom of the second. Nate Freiman doubled to lead off the inning and he advanced to third when Jake Blackwood flied out to center field. Moments later, Chris Tremblay drove in Freiman with a sacrifice fly that gave Lake Elsinore a 1-0 advantage.
Lake Elsinore extended its lead to 3-0 an inning later when Reymond Fuentes blasted a two-run home run over the right field wall.
The JetHawks got on the scoreboard in top of the fourth. Jonathan Singleton was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Austin Wates followed with a double. Jonathan Meyer delivered an RBI single that plated Singleton. Wates scored later in the frame on an RBI groundout from Andy Simunic that made it a 3-2 ballgame.
Eddy Rodriguez smacked a solo home run off Grimmett in the bottom of the fifth, which extended Lake Elsinore's lead to 4-2. But Lancaster answered with two runs in the top of the sixth. Meyer hit a two-out double and Storm starter Jose De Paula issued a walk to Erik Castro. Following a pitching change, Andy Simunic and Rene Garcia hit consecutive RBI singles off Storm reliever Aaron Breit, which evened the score at 4-4.
Lancaster took the lead with a run off Storm reliever Jeff Ibarra in the top of the seventh. Grant Hogue hit a leadoff single to start the inning and he advanced to second on Jio Mier's sacrifice bunt. Singleton ripped an RBI single that scored Hogue and put Lancaster in front 5-4.
The JetHawks tacked on four runs in the top of the ninth off Storm closer Jason Ray to seal the win. Wates smacked a two-run triple and Meyer drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Grimmett (5-12) earned the win for Lancaster. Ibarra (3-2) took the loss for Lake Elsinore. Ray picked up his 11th save for the Storm.
Lancaster improved to 22-40 in the second half and 50-82 overall. Lake Elsinore fell to 34-28 in the second half and 66-66 overall.
The JetHawks will try to bounce back when the two teams meet Sunday night at 5:05. Lefty Wes Musick (3-5, 4.43 ERA) gets the start for Lancaster while the Storm are expected to counter with lefty Nick Schmidt (3-3, 2.60 ERA). Tune in to [email protected] and FM 87.7 Kickin' Country for all the live action beginning with the pre-game show at 4:50 p.m. Lancaster returns home on August 30 for the opener of a seven-game homestand against Visalia and Lake Elsinore. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Ticket packages for the 2011 season are currently available. To lock in your seats, call (661) 726-5400 or visit www.JetHawks.com.