Gulbransen hits for sixth JetHawks cycle in rout

Designated hitter pulls double down right field line to complete feat in 8th

By Jason Schwartz

June 6, 2014

LANCASTER, Calif. - Dan Gulbransen doubled to lead off the eighth inning to complete the sixth cycle in JetHawks history in a 16-7 win over the Inland Empire 66ers on Thursday night at The Hangar.

After striking out in the first inning, Gulbransen hit a three-run triple in his second at-bat, a three-run homer in his third at-bat and singled in his fourth at-bat before his historic fifth plate appearance.

Gulbransen is the first JetHawk to hit for the cycle since Brandon Barnes and Freddy Parejo hit for the cycle on back-to-back days on June 8 and June 9, 2010.

The cycle overshadowed a game in which the JetHawks (39-23) hit a season-high four home runs and picked up a sweep of the 66ers. The club has now won five straight and 12 of its last 13. The JetHawks went 6-1 in its seven-game homestand.

After falling behind 2-0 on a Cal Towey first inning homer, the JetHawks tied the game quickly in the bottom of the first on back-to-back solo home runs by Tony Kemp and Teoscar Hernandez.

Starter Brian Holmes (2-1) settled down after the first inning homer and didn't allow another run until the seventh inning. He finished the night allowing five hits and four runs with three strikeouts and two walks.

Gulbransen helped break the game open in the third inning with his triple and Ruben Sosa singled him home to put Lancaster ahead 6-2.

Roberto Peña picked up an RBI with a hit in the fourth inning before Gulbransen's three-run shot, his third of the season, made the score 10-2.

In the fifth inning, Hernandez singled and Carlos Correa walked before Rio Ruiz belted a three-run home run.

Jordan Scott added a run with sac-fly in the sixth and Lancaster picked up its final two runs in the seventh. Hernandez led off with a walk and was tripled home by Correa. Ruiz picked up the final run on a groundout.

The JetHawks 16 runs set a new season-high for the club. Inland Empire (21-41) dropped to 18 games back of Lancaster in the standings. Elliot Morris (1-1) allowed six runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings for the loss.

Lancaster heads to Visalia to take on the Rawhide (33-29) in the first of a four-game series on Friday at Recreation Park. Zach Morton will start against Bradin Shipley. First pitch is 7 p.m.

Don't miss a moment of exciting JetHawks action at The Hangar in 2014. Season tickets and other great ticket packages are on sale now. To order, call (661) 726-5400 or visit jethawks.com.