Grills Baffles Blaze In Series Opening Win
April 27, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Lancaster JetHawks News Release
LANCASTER, Calif. - Evan Grills tossed five hitless innings to lead the Lancaster JetHawks over the Bakersfield Blaze, 5-4 in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday night at The Hangar.
Grills (2-0) threw just 59 pitches to earn his second consecutive win and only 11 in his final two innings of work. He walked one and struck out four. Tandem starter Elieser Hernandez pitched the next 2.1 innings and allowed all four Bakersfield runs. Riley Ferrell picked up a five-out save, his fourth of the season.
The JetHawks (6-10) led from wire-to-wire. In the first inning with one out, Drew Ferguson tripled off the wall in center field and Jason Martin followed with an RBI double. Lancaster added a pair in the fourth, one coming on an RBI single by Alejandro Garcia and another coming across on an error. Garcia had two hits, two RBI, and a stolen base on the night.
Bakersfield (7-11) got back into the game in the sixth when Austin Wilson launched a two-run homer to left. The JetHawks responded with two of their own in the bottom of the inning. Three straight hits opened the frame. Nick Tanielu doubled, Jamie Ritchie brought him home with an RBI single, and Garcia followed with an RBI double.
The Blaze hit another two-run home run in the top of the seventh to creep within a run once again. On an 0-2 pitch, Austin Cousino blasted his first of the season.
Ferrell was summoned with one out and one on in the eighth and needed just one pitch to get out of the inning, as he induced a double play grounder off the bat of clean-up batter Kyle Petty. Ferrell stranded a pair in scoring position in the ninth to secure the save.
The JetHawks and Blaze continue their three-game series on Wednesday night at The Hangar. Dean Deetz (1-0) will start for Lancaster against Eddie Campbell (2-0). First pitch is at 6:35 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 April 27, 2016
- Quakes Edge Sixers in Ten Innings - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Banner Island Ballpark to Host 2016 WCC Baseball Championship - Stockton Ports
- Quakes Down Sixers 9-2 Behind Offensive Prowess - Inland Empire 66ers
- Late Rally Begets Narrow Loss in Lancaster - Bakersfield Blaze
- Quakes Rip Sixers on Tuesday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Seven-Run Inning Propels Giants to Blowout Win - San Jose Giants
- Rawhide Take Advantage of Nuts Mis-Step - Visalia Rawhide
- Seven-Run Inning Dooms Ports in 11-2 Loss - Stockton Ports
- Grills Baffles Blaze In Series Opening Win - Lancaster JetHawks
- Two Homers Not Enough in Ten-Inning Loss - Modesto Nuts
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