Lancaster Launches Five Homers in Win
Published on June 15, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Lancaster JetHawks News Release
LANCASTER, CA - After struggling to score runs during their six game road trip, the JetHawks came home and made up for it all in one night. Lancaster launched five home runs, including an inside-the-park home run hit by Enrique Hernandez, to beat the Inland Empire 66ers 12-8 on Thursday night at The Hangar.
Both starters suffered rough outings. Travis Witherspoon greeted Ruben Alaniz with a leadoff home run to start the game. Alaniz would give up eight runs in four innings, allowing a season-high three home runs on his 21st birthday.
Alex Todd led off the JetHawks half of the first with his first home run as a JetHawk this season. George Springer made it back-to-back home runs 13th homer of the season, a line drive to right field, to put Lancaster on top 2-1.
In the bottom of the second, Hernandez started the inning with his team-leading 17th double. After Todd doubled him home, Springer hit a deep home run to left field to give him his second multi-homer game of the year.
With a 5-1 lead, Alaniz let the 66ers back in. Brian Hernandez hit a two-run shot in the third make it 5-3. After the JetHawks scored a run in the third on Rene Garcia's RBI-single, Inland Empire scored five in the fourth to go up 8-6.
Randal Grichuk started the inning with a solo home run and the 66ers hit five consecutive singles, including a two-RBI single for C.J. Cron, to take their first lead.
It was Max Russell's turn to give up five runs. The 66ers starter allowed Springer to reach on an infield single to start the inning. He went to second on an error and third on a ground ball before scoring on Domingo Santana's groundout.
With two outs and nobody on, Telvin Nash walked - one of three walks on the night - and Jonathan Meyer drove him in with his fourth home run of the season. Ben Heath followed with a single before Hernandez drove one over the glove of the leaping Travis Witherspoon in centerfield. The ball kicked off the wall in center that angles towards right and rolled along the base of the wall giving Hernandez enough time to come all the around and slide in safely at the plate.
Russell (3-6) allowed season-highs with 11 runs and five home runs in the game.
After the two teams combined to score 19 runs in the first four innings, the bullpens allowed just one run in the final four and a half. Brian Streilein (2-3) tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win, Patrick Urckfitz tossed one scoreless inning and Andrew Robinson threw 1 1/3 innings to end the game and pick up his third save.
Lancaster's final run scored in the bottom of the seventh when Garcia scored on Erik Castro's sacrifice fly to put the JetHawks up 12-8.
The JetHawks (35-33) and 66ers (31-37) play game two of the series on Saturday night at 7:00 pm at The Hangar. David Martinez (1-3, 6.58) will face Manny Correa (3-3, 3.29). It's Star Wars Night and fireworks night at the ballpark.
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 15, 2012
- Banner Island Ballpark to Host 2013 WCC Baseball Championship - Stockton Ports
- Quakes Move to Within One Win of Pennant - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Edge Modesto in Series Opener, 6-5 - San Jose Giants
- Bakersfield Wins First Half Title, Beats Elsinore 4-2 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Lancaster Launches Five Homers in Win - Lancaster JetHawks
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