CalL1 Lancaster JetHawks

Bower Dominates In Jethawks Debut

May 15, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Lancaster JetHawks News Release


LANCASTER, Calif. - Matt Bower struck out 10 and allowed only one hit over five shutout innings in his High-A debut, and the JetHawks scored four times in the sixth to knock off the Lake Elsinore Storm on Saturday night at The Hangar, 5-1.

After walking Luis Urias on four pitches to open the game, the left-hander Bower (1-0) immediately settled in and struck out four of the next five. The one hit Bower allowed came on a bunt single with one-out in the fourth by Franchy Cordero, one of his three hits on the night. Six of Bower 's strikeouts were swinging and four were looking. He struck out the side in the fourth.

The JetHawks took the lead right away with a run in the opening frame against spot-starter T.J. Weir, who lasted three innings and took a no-decision. Bobby Boyd had an infield single and Garrett Stubbs blooped a base hit into left to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Two batters later, Nick Tanielu increased his team-leading RBI total to 25 with a single to score Boyd from second. Tanielu had two hits on the night to raise his batting average to .347, good for third in the league.

It remained 1-0 until the sixth, when Elieser Hernandez (1-0) took over for Bower on the hill for the JetHawks. After Hernandez hit Marcus Greene to open the inning, Urias followed with a single. Greene advanced to third on a fly ball and scored on an RBI single by Cordero. Hernandez, however, was able to induce a ground ball double play off the bat of cleanup hitter Franmil Reyes to end the frame and avert further damage.

Hernandez went on to retire 10 of the final 12 hitters he faced, including six in a row at one point, to earn his first win of the season. Taylor Cox (0-1) took the loss in relief for Lake Elsinore.

The decisive point in the game was the bottom of the sixth, when the JetHawks put up four runs. Ramon Laureano walked to open the frame, Tanielu followed with a single, and Jamie Ritchie walked to load the bases. Martires Arias was then summoned from the Lake Elsinore bullpen. Alejandro Garcia grounded into an RBI fielder 's choice to short, and two batters later Kristian Trompiz delivered an RBI infield single off the bare right hand of Arias. Two additional runs came home on a wild pitch and an error, one of two miscues in the inning and three on the night for Lake Elsinore.

The Storm were just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base. They have been held to just two runs on seven hits combined in the first two games of the series by the JetHawks pitching staff. The JetHawks have now won three games in a row for the first time this season.

The JetHawks and Storm continue their four-game series tomorrow afternoon at The Hangar. Dean Deetz (2-0) will start for Lancaster against Dinelson Lamet (5-1). First pitch is 2:05 p.m.

The JetHawks are celebrating their 20th anniversary season in Lancaster. Great ticket packages and group events are on sale now at jethawks.com or by calling (661) 726-5400.



California League Stories from May 15, 2016


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