JetHawks rally to get much-needed win vs. High Desert
Aug. 6, 2015
By ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
LANCASTER — The JetHawks’ downward spiral of late had started seven days before in Adelanto, where the Mavericks used a four-game sweep of Lancaster to propel themselves to the top of the Cal League South standings.
“We went to their place, we got swept,” JetHawks third baseman J.D. Davis said. “But we kind of made a point (Thursday) to be a little more focused.”
Behind 13 hits and seven shutout innings on Thursday night, the JetHawks (18-22, 55-55) made another point during a 9-4 win over High Desert in the start of a four-game series: they’re not done just yet.
Hindered by poor pitching during a recent 1-6 stretch, the JetHawks shook off a rough two innings from starter Kevin Comer on Thursday to rally for a much-needed win against a team that came into the night 12-2 over its last 14 games.
“It’s good to get a win and get a little closer to getting back to first place,” Davis said.
Comer gave up a two-run homer in the top of the first to Royce Bolinger and a two-RBI single to Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the second before shutting out the Mavericks (21-16, 58-48) over the next three innings.
Austin Chrismon relieved Comer in the sixth and pitched four scoreless innings, only giving up two hits while striking out four, to record his fifth win of the season.
Comer gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings.
“Any time you have pitching and defense, you have a 99 percent chance to win the game,” JetHawks manager Omar Lopez said. “If we can do that, we’re going to have a pretty good chance to win the game.”
The offense also did its part, starting with Davis, who knotted up the game at 2-2 in the first by launching his 19th homer of the season beyond the right field wall.
“I’m seeing (the ball) pretty good,” said Davis, who finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Batting ninth, Marc Wik tripled in Mott Hyde in the second inning and singled Hyde again in the fourth to tie the game 4-4.
In the sixth, Davis led off with a hard-hit single that was inches away from clearing the right-field wall. Ronnie Mitchell then followed with a walk before catcher Jamie Ritchie gave the JetHawks their first lead of the night with an RBI double off the center-field wall.
McDonald added a sac fly and, after Hyde struck out, Wik completed his three-RBI night by taking the Mavs off guard and bunting in a run for a 7-4 lead.
“Luckily it got down,” said Wik, who went 3-for-4. “It wasn’t the best of bunts, but I guess I got lucky and put it in the right spot.”
With a hitting streak on the line, James Ramsay delivered during his fifth at-bat of the night in the eighth inning, singling in the final two runs through the right side. It was the 13th consecutive game with a hit for Ramsay and capped a night to feel good about for the JetHawks after quite a share of rough ones.
Ritchie went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple for the JetHawks, who send right-hander Akeem Bostick (2-4, 6.32 ERA) to the mound today at 6:30 p.m. against Mavs right-hander Richelson Pena (9-6, 4.64 ERA).
The JetHawks hope they can continue to build momentum against a rival that not too long ago sent them reeling a little bit.
“We battle every day,” Wik said. “It’s definitely a grind out here and some days we’re really good and some days we can be really bad, but we’re always going to battle and try and be the best we can.”
JetHawks to induct Vasquez, Keuchel, DeCinces to Hall of Fame
The Lancaster JetHawks will conduct their annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 6 p.m. today prior to their game against the High Desert Mavericks. JetHawks infield coach Ramon Vasquez, Houston Astros ace Dallas Keuchel and former major-league third baseman Doug DeCinces will be inducted.
Vasquez is a former JetHawk who made his major-league debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2001 and went on to play for six other clubs before joining the JetHawks as a coach last year. Keuchel played in Lancaster during the 2010 season and set a record with three complete games. Last year, Keuchel led the majors in complete games before starting this year’s All-Star Game for the American League.
DeCinces, a Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer, will be inducted under the “Friends of Baseball” category after being the original promoter of bringing minor league baseball to the Antelope Valley in 1990.
By ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
LANCASTER — The JetHawks’ downward spiral of late had started seven days before in Adelanto, where the Mavericks used a four-game sweep of Lancaster to propel themselves to the top of the Cal League South standings.
“We went to their place, we got swept,” JetHawks third baseman J.D. Davis said. “But we kind of made a point (Thursday) to be a little more focused.”
Behind 13 hits and seven shutout innings on Thursday night, the JetHawks (18-22, 55-55) made another point during a 9-4 win over High Desert in the start of a four-game series: they’re not done just yet.
Hindered by poor pitching during a recent 1-6 stretch, the JetHawks shook off a rough two innings from starter Kevin Comer on Thursday to rally for a much-needed win against a team that came into the night 12-2 over its last 14 games.
“It’s good to get a win and get a little closer to getting back to first place,” Davis said.
Comer gave up a two-run homer in the top of the first to Royce Bolinger and a two-RBI single to Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the second before shutting out the Mavericks (21-16, 58-48) over the next three innings.
Austin Chrismon relieved Comer in the sixth and pitched four scoreless innings, only giving up two hits while striking out four, to record his fifth win of the season.
Comer gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings.
“Any time you have pitching and defense, you have a 99 percent chance to win the game,” JetHawks manager Omar Lopez said. “If we can do that, we’re going to have a pretty good chance to win the game.”
The offense also did its part, starting with Davis, who knotted up the game at 2-2 in the first by launching his 19th homer of the season beyond the right field wall.
“I’m seeing (the ball) pretty good,” said Davis, who finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Batting ninth, Marc Wik tripled in Mott Hyde in the second inning and singled Hyde again in the fourth to tie the game 4-4.
In the sixth, Davis led off with a hard-hit single that was inches away from clearing the right-field wall. Ronnie Mitchell then followed with a walk before catcher Jamie Ritchie gave the JetHawks their first lead of the night with an RBI double off the center-field wall.
McDonald added a sac fly and, after Hyde struck out, Wik completed his three-RBI night by taking the Mavs off guard and bunting in a run for a 7-4 lead.
“Luckily it got down,” said Wik, who went 3-for-4. “It wasn’t the best of bunts, but I guess I got lucky and put it in the right spot.”
With a hitting streak on the line, James Ramsay delivered during his fifth at-bat of the night in the eighth inning, singling in the final two runs through the right side. It was the 13th consecutive game with a hit for Ramsay and capped a night to feel good about for the JetHawks after quite a share of rough ones.
Ritchie went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple for the JetHawks, who send right-hander Akeem Bostick (2-4, 6.32 ERA) to the mound today at 6:30 p.m. against Mavs right-hander Richelson Pena (9-6, 4.64 ERA).
The JetHawks hope they can continue to build momentum against a rival that not too long ago sent them reeling a little bit.
“We battle every day,” Wik said. “It’s definitely a grind out here and some days we’re really good and some days we can be really bad, but we’re always going to battle and try and be the best we can.”
JetHawks to induct Vasquez, Keuchel, DeCinces to Hall of Fame
The Lancaster JetHawks will conduct their annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 6 p.m. today prior to their game against the High Desert Mavericks. JetHawks infield coach Ramon Vasquez, Houston Astros ace Dallas Keuchel and former major-league third baseman Doug DeCinces will be inducted.
Vasquez is a former JetHawk who made his major-league debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2001 and went on to play for six other clubs before joining the JetHawks as a coach last year. Keuchel played in Lancaster during the 2010 season and set a record with three complete games. Last year, Keuchel led the majors in complete games before starting this year’s All-Star Game for the American League.
DeCinces, a Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer, will be inducted under the “Friends of Baseball” category after being the original promoter of bringing minor league baseball to the Antelope Valley in 1990.