Lancaster Playoff Recap and Pitching Matchup

Friday's Game

Lancaster over Modesto 11-2 (Lancaster leads best-of-five series 2-0)
Uno Mas! That's how many games Lancaster needs to win out of the next three to be crowned California League Champions. That's the good news. The bad news is that Modesto came back from an 0-2 deficit in the previous round to get to the finals so they can't be counted out. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Blair Walters got the start and, despite some early traffic, managed to get some key outs and ultimately allowed only one run (on a passed ball) on six hits and no walks with six strikeouts in five innings of work to earn the win. He was followed by Chia-Jen Lo who showed a return to his earlier form as he provided scoreless relief in his two innings of work, striking out four. Carlos Quevedo came in for the final two and allowed one run in the bottom of the ninth. A combined two runs on nine hits and one walk with 11 strikeouts from the JetHawks pitching staff kept Lancaster in control of the game as they scored all the runs that they would need in the third inning. But they piled on scoring another four in the fifth inning due in large part to a three-run Telvin Nash home run, one in the sixth driven in by one of three Andrew Aplin doubles, and three more in the top of the ninth. After going 0-for-four on Thursday, Aplin was on fire with a four-for-five night on Friday and Nash was two-for-four with four RBI. Delino DeShields was two-for-five with a walk, RBI, stolen base and scored a run and Jonathan Meyer was one-for-three with a double, two walks and scored two runs. Jio Mier, Erik Castro, Domingo Santana and Carlos Perez each drove in a run as well. Seven of Lancaster's 12 hits were for extra bases. Great all-around  team effort from a really exciting team.

Saturday's Pitching Matchup

9:00 CST - Game 3: Modesto at Lancaster
LHP Colton Cain takes the mound for Lancaster. He has one loss in the post-season and did not face Modesto during the regular season. In his seven regular season starts for Lancaster after he was obtained in a trade with the Pirates, he was 2-2 with a 5.55 ERA and a 1.430 WHIP. LHP Jorge de la Rosa will appear for Modesto in a rehab start for the Rockies. De la Rosa has made seven rehab starts in four different leagues this season with a 6.64 ERA and a 1.771 WHIP. He made one post-season start against Bakersfield and only allowed one run on three hits in three and two-thirds innings.