JetHawks Tie With 3 in 9th, But Oaks Have Last Laugh

Lancaster JetHawk third baseman Joel Ramirez hit a two-run double to tie Sunday night’s game in the top of the ninth, but his error in the bottom of the inning allowed the Visalia Oaks to win 8-7 at Recreation Park.

The JetHawks (15-16) trailed 7-4 in the ninth, but tied the game, with the final two runs coming on Ramirez’s double.

But the momentum would not last long. Reliever Aaron Scheffer (1-1) allowed the Oaks to load the bases with no outs on a walk, a hit and a hit batsmen. Left-hander Sean Spencer, who has been the team’s most reliable relief pitcher, got Dave Slemmer to hit a ground ball, but Ramirez couldn’t handle it and the winning run scored.

JetHawk starter Kevin Gryboski was pulled after five innings with the game tied, 4-4.

Visalia catcher Ramon Hernandez drove in the go-ahead run on a groundout in the seventh inning. The Oaks added to the lead on Ryan Christenson’s two-run homer in the eighth.