Tucker Extends Streak, RBI Lead in Win
Published on June 2, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
Lancaster JetHawks News Release
LANCASTER, Calif. - Preston Tucker hit his 11th home run of the season to extend his hitting streak to 16 games as the JetHawks beat the Visalia Rawhide, 12-3, on Saturday night at The Hangar.
With ash falling from the sky throughout the game due to fires to the south of Lancaster, a crowd of 3,506 watched as the JetHawks scored 10 or more runs for the seventh time in the last 11 games and the 15th time overall this season.
Visalia took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning against starter Chris Devenski but Brandon Meredith tied the game in the first with a two-run double, the first of three hits in the game for Meredith.
After allowing another run in the second inning, Devenski got out of a bases loaded jam in the third inning and in the fourth, with the bases loaded again, Michael Dimock came in from the bullpen to strikeout Belza looking to end the inning.
Lancaster took advantage of Visalia's inability to score with men on base. After a Meredith lead-off single, Tucker hit a towering fly ball to right field that just cleared the right field fence to put the JetHawks up, 4-3. Later in the inning, Joe Sclafani walked with the bases loaded to make the score 5-3.
Meredith led off with a single again in the fifth and scored all the way from first on Tucker's double to the left field gap. Tucker totaled three RBI on the night to give him a total of 55 on the season. He leads all of Minor League Baseball.
Telvin Nash drove Tucker home with a double and then came around to score on a Tyler Heineman base hit. Two batters later, Chris Epps belted one off the light pole in right field to make the score 10-3. It was Epps' fourth homer of the season.
Brady Rodgers (5-1), the tandem starter, took over in the sixth inning and dominated. The right-hander did not allow a run over four innings of work and gave up just two hits to earn his fifth win. Rodgers hasn't allowed a run over his last three outings and has tossed 15 consecutive scoreless innings.
Joe Sclafani hit a two-run home run off Diogenes Rosario in the eighth inning, his second of the season, to put Lancaster ahead by the eventual final score.
Andrew Aplin went 0-for-5 and was the only JetHawks hitter who finished the night without a hit. His hitting streak came to an end at 11 games.
The JetHawks (34-21) have now matched San Jose for the league's best record. They take on the Rawhide (32-22) on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm in the series finale. Tyson Perez (2-3, 7.31) and David Rollins (4-3, 3.96) will pitch for Lancaster against left-hander Cody Wheeler (2-2, 5.47). Fans are welcome on to the field prior to the game to play catch for Family in the Park Sunday. JetHawks players will sign autographs as well and after the game, kids can run the bases.
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 2, 2013
- 'Hawks Rout 'Hide to Take Series - Lancaster JetHawks
- Mavericks Rally Late to Drop Modesto - Modesto Nuts
- Muncy's Slam Sends Ports to 6-3 Victory - Stockton Ports
- Late Grand Slam Dooms Giants in 6-3 Loss - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Play Long-Ball, Back Gould for Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Pair of Three-Run Homers Down Blaze, 7-3 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Gagnon Deals as Nuts Win Again, 3-1 - Modesto Nuts
- Rough Ninth for Quakes - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Blaze Mount Ninth Inning Comeback, Stun Quakes, 9-8 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Homers Help Ports to 9-4 Win over Giants - Stockton Ports
- Tucker Extends Streak, RBI Lead in Win - Lancaster JetHawks
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