JetHawks Offense Explodes Out of Gates, Lancaster Wins Series
Published on June 18, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
Lancaster JetHawks News Release
(LANCASTER, CA) - The Lancaster JetHawks rode hot bats early in Wednesday night's game, and the left arm of Fernando Abad took them the rest of the way home in a series-clinching 7-5 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers. It was the second straight series victory the JetHawks have scored over the 66ers and helped Lancaster close their first half home schedule on a high note.
A major reason the JetHawks have been much improved of late is the hot hitting in the top half of the order - and that continued on Wednesday night. J.B. Shuck led off the first with a single to left, and Gabriel Suarez followed with a single of his own. After the JetHawks' hottest hitter Jon Gaston struck out, T.J. Steele doubled in Shuck and Suarez. Matt Weston added a third run when he singled in Steele.
The Mavericks scored once in both the first and second, but the JetHawks answered with three once again in the second. Brandon Barnes singled and and Chris Jackson laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt and reached on Chris Withrow's error. Gaston doubled in Barnes and Suarez, who had walked. It was Gaston's 46th extra base hit, a figure that leads all of minor league baseball, and put Jon over the half century mark with 51 RBIs. Steele brought Gaston home with a single to left and Lancaster was up 6-2.
Starter Jack Tilghman was chased in the third inning with a run in and two men on, and Jordan Powell was summoned from the bullpen. After walking Scott Van Slyke, he got the next two outs. But facing Alex Garabedian, Powell felt tightness in his back and was forced to leave the game. On came Abad, who calmly retired Christian Lara to end the threat.
Abad was nearly perfect the rest of the way, the only blemish on his record a solo home run by Van Slyke in the fifth. Abad went a career-long five and a third innings, allowed only the one run and just one hit. E struck out four and showed masterful command of the strike zone.
The JetHawks got an insurance run in the fifth when Matt Weston hit a solo home run to right field. It was his fifth long ball and stretched his hitting streak to seven games. He has driven in a run in all seven.
The JetHawks hit the road for the final four games of the first half in Modesto, beginning tomorrow night. Tomorrow's game is at 7:05 PM, and the radio broadcast can be heard on Magic 1340 and www.jethawks.com beginning at 6:50 PM.
The club makes its return to the Hangar on Thursday, June 25 to face the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes at 7:00 PM. Great ticket packages, including season tickets and flexible mini-plans, are on sale now for the 2009 season and may be ordered by calling (661) 726-5400. For more information, please visit the JetHawks official website at www.JetHawks.com.
California League Stories from June 18, 2009
- Sexton Gets Support, Sixers Dethrone Mavs - Inland Empire 66ers
- All-Star Game Itinerary Finalized - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Quakes Begin Four-Game Homestand Today - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- San Jose Giants at Stockton Ports, June 18-21 - Stockton Ports
- JetHawks Offense Explodes Out of Gates, Lancaster Wins Series - Lancaster JetHawks
- Five-run sixth hurts Ports in 6-2 loss - Stockton Ports
- Report: Manny to Rehab with 66ers - Inland Empire 66ers
- Abad Offers Relief as JetHawks Take Series - Inland Empire 66ers
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