Nuts bats no match for pitching duo

LANCASTER, Calif. - After the season opening six game homestand it was clear the JetHawks lineup was a force to be reckoned with. On Thursday night in Modesto, it was the pitchers' turn to take the spotlight.

Lancaster's tandem starters David Rollins and Tyson Perez shut down the Modesto Nuts lineup, allowing just one unearned run and four hits as the JetHawks won their fifth game in a row, 5-1.

The win came in front of a sold out crowd of 4,214 on Opening Night at John Thurman Field.

David Rollins (2-0) became the first JetHawks pitcher to win two games. He allowed four hits and one run - unearned - over five innings and struck out four.

The only Nuts run came across in the first inning. Tim Smalling, who led off with a single, scored from third base when catcher M.P. Cokinos made an errant throw to second on a stolen base attempt.

Modesto put runners aboard in the second and third innings but Rollins was able to strand them.

Tyson Perez entered the game with a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning and proceeded to toss four perfect innings to finish the game and pick up his first save. The right-hander struck out the side in his first inning and totaled four strikeouts on the night.

Rollins kept his ERA at 0.00 and Perez lowered his to 1.13. Modesto failed to get a hit after Tyler Massey's single with one out in the third inning.

Rafael Valenzuela put the JetHawks on the board with a RBI-double in the second inning and Matt Duffy drove in Preston Tucker with a single in the third to give them the lead against Nuts starter Ben Alsup (1-1).

Alsup last just 3 1/3 innings and suffered his first loss. He had struck out nine over seven shutout innings in his first start.

Lancaster loaded the bases against reliever Geoff Parker in the fifth inning on two walks and a hit batter. Drew Muren drove in a run with a RBI-groundout. Lancaster added two more in the eighth on a Nelson Gonzalez balk and M.P. Cokinos' first RBI-hit of the year.

The JetHawks (6-1) own the Cal League's best record through the first week of the season. They'll play the second game of the series against the Nuts (3-5) on Friday night at 7:05 pm. Luis Cruz and Aaron West will pitch against Daniel Winkler.

Don't miss a moment of the 2013 season as the JetHawks look to repeat as California League Champions. Season tickets and great ticket packages are available now. To order, call (661) 726-5400 or visit jethawks.com.