Cokinos Backs up West's Solid Start
Published on June 13, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
Lancaster JetHawks News Release
LANCASTER, Calif. - M.P. Cokinos led the offensive charge with four RBI and Aaron West tossed five hitless innings as the JetHawks took the rubber game from the High Desert Mavericks, 10-3, on Wednesday night at The Hangar.
West (3-3) followed his worst start of the season with his best. He allowed season-highs in hits and runs in his last outing at San Jose. This time, he did not allow a hit for five innings and tied a season-high with five strikeouts, including the 100th of the year.
Lancaster gave him a lead in the first inning when Cokinos picked up his first RBI on a run-scoring ground out. Delino DeShields, who had led off with a single, came in to score.
In the second inning, the JetHawks took advantage of a crucial High Desert error and scored four unearned runs against starter Brett Shankin (2-2). With the bases loaded and two out, Andrew Aplin hit a popup behind the mound, third baseman Dillon Hazlett rushed over to catch the ball but it dropped for an error and Joe Sclafani scored. Cokinos followed with a hit by pitch to score DeShields and Preston Tucker grounded a base hit up the middle to bring in two more runs.
The score stayed 5-0 until the sixth inning. Shankin, who allowed five runs (one earned) over five innings, was removed in favor of Mayckol Guaipe. With two outs, DeShields singled and Nolan Fontana walked (his third walk of the game) to bring Aplin back to the plate.
Aplin ended a three-game hitless streak with a groundball single to right field. DeShields scored from first and right fielder Jabari Blash bobbled the ball in right field to allow Fontana to score as well.
Cokinos followed by depositing a Guaipe fastball over the left field fence for his fifth home run of the season.
The next batter, Tucker, lined a ball over the right field fence to give him a team-high 12 home runs and the JetHawks a 10-0 lead. It was the second time the JetHawks hit back-to-back home runs this season. Tucker finished the game with three RBI to give him a Cal League-leading 61 on the season.
Ramon Morla and Kevin Rivers led off the seventh inning with base hits against reliever Theron Geith to break up the no-hitter. Chris Taylor and Dan Paolini each homered in a three-run eighth inning against JetHawks reliever Michael Dimock to put the Mavericks on the board. Cameron Lamb tossed a perfect ninth to finish the game.
The JetHawks (37-29) head to Lake Elsinore for the final series of the first half. Inland Empire beat Stockton on a walk-off home run in the 11th inning to extend its winning strike to five and keep Lancaster's lead at two in the South Division standings. The JetHawks' magic number to clinch the first half title is now three. Brady Rodgers (5-3, 4.41) will start on Thursday night against Lake Elsinore's James Needy (2-2, 3.61). First pitch is at 7:05 pm at The Diamond.
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.
California League Stories from June 13, 2013
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Travel to Visalia with First Half Title at Stake - San Jose Giants
- Yarbrough's 11th Inning Homer Sinks Ports 7-4 - Stockton Ports
- San Jose Outlasts Modesto in 11 Innings - Modesto Nuts
- Giants Win on Bond's 11th Inning Walk-Off Home Run - San Jose Giants
- Blaze Drop Wacky, Long One, 14-9 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Yarbrough Homers for Walk off Winner - Inland Empire 66ers
- Cokinos Backs up West's Solid Start - Lancaster JetHawks
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