Joc Knocks JetHawks to Back of Title Race
Published on June 14, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Lancaster JetHawks News Release
RANCHO CUGAMONGA, CA - In a crucial rubber game that had a playoff-feel from the first pitch, the JetHawks were edged by the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, 3-2, thanks to a late Joc Pederson home run on Wednesday night at The Epicenter.
The loss complicated the JetHawks' first half title hopes, knocking them into fourth place, two games out of first with three games to play. Lancaster (34-33) finished the important six game road trip with a 2-4 record. All four losses came by just one run.
Pederson led off the bottom of the eighth with a line drive home run to right field against Zach Grimmett (2-4) to give the Quakes a 3-2 lead. Pederson was the only batter Grimmett failed to retire in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
Quakes closer Eric Eadington allowed a two-out single to Domingo Santana in the bottom of the ninth before striking out pinch-hitter Telvin Nash to end the game and lock up his eighth save. Nash has now struck out in 29 straight games.
The game began as a fierce pitchers' duel between starters Jorge De Leon and Brandon Martinez. Each pitcher started the game by allowing just two hits over five scoreless innings. Then each pitcher struggled in the sixth.
Martinez allowed four hits in the sixth inning, including three consecutive singles with two outs that led to two runs. After Ben Orloff and George Springer reached on singles, Erik Castro grounded a shot back up the middle that ricocheted off of Martinez's foot and shot out into right field. Orloff scored easily and Springer, who was on his way to third, took advantage of a lazy throw from the right fielder and scored all the way from first on the single. The JetHawks led 2-0.
De Leon who had been lights out through the first five innings came out for the sixth inning for the first time this season and couldn't hold the lead. C.J. Retherford crushed a home run to left field with one out, his 15th of the season. After a fly out, Jonathan Garcia and Chris O'Brien hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game.
De Leon was replaced by Grimmett with two outs in the sixth. He finished with two runs allowed on five hits with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. It was his best start of the season.
Robert Purpura (2-0) relieved Martinez to start the seventh inning and went on to toss two perfect innings using just 14 pitches to pick up the win.
In order to finish in a first place tie, the JetHawks must sweep the Inland Empire 66ers in their final series of the half. Inland Empire (31-36) visits The Hangar for a three game series beginning Thursday night at 7:00 pm. Ruben Alaniz (6-2, 4.10) will start against Max Russell (3-5, 4.77).
Along with a sweep, the JetHawks need High Desert to win two out of three against Rancho Cucamonga and Bakersfield to beat Lake Elsinore at least once in the final three games of the half.
Great JetHawks ticket packages and single game tickets are on sale now. Special group discounts are also available. For more information please visit www.jethawks.com or call the JetHawks box office at (661) 726-5400.
California League Stories from June 14, 2012
- First-Place Quakes Teaming up with Smile Generation - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Host Modesto to Conclude First Half - San Jose Giants
- Storm Fall Back One, Travel to Face Bakersfield - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Joc Knocks JetHawks to Back of Title Race - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Cruise Past 66ers to Take Series - San Jose Giants
- Bakersfield Blows 6-Run Lead, Misses Chance to Clinch - Bakersfield Blaze
- Quakes Back Alone in First - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- 66ers Downed 7-1 in Final 1st Half Home Game - Inland Empire 66ers
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