Lancaster Loses to Oaks in 12th

Troy Rauer led off the bottom of the 12th inning with a home run off Sean Spencer (2-2) to give the Visalia Oaks a 3-2 victory over the Lancaster JetHawks on Thursday night in Visalia.

The JetHawks (27-20), who entered the game trailing the Modesto A’s by one game in the Valley Division, took a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning but couldn’t close it out. The Oaks (26-21) stayed in first place in the Freeway Division.

The JetHawks opened the scoring with consecutive home runs by Josh Watts, his fifth, and Shawn Buhner, his 10th, in the fourth inning. Visalia cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning when Duane Filchner doubled home Dave Slemmer from second base.

The score remained 2-1, Lancaster until the eighth. With one out, Slemmer doubled down the left-field line against reliever Denny Bonilla, sending Josue Espada home from second.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

Scanning Wednesday’s box scores: TRIPLE A--Shortstop Matt Howard of Columbus and third baseman Steve Rodriguez, both from Pepperdine, saw their batting averages drop in an 18-inning International League game. Howard went one for eight and Rodriguez went one for six in Columbus’ 4-3 victory. . . . Dan Chergey (Thousand Oaks) earned his first save for Charlotte by pitching two shutout innings in a 5-1 victory over Pawtucket. Chergey struck out three and his earned-run average dropped to 2.73. . . . Tucson catcher Bobby Hughes (Notre Dame) had two hits to raise his batting average to .280.

DOUBLE A--Second baseman David Newhan (Pepperdine) raised his batting average to .336 for Huntsville with two hits. . . . Right-hander John Snyder (Westlake) allowed one run and struck out six in six innings but got no decision for Birmingham.

CLASS A--First baseman Nate Dishington (Hoover) hit his 23rd home run for Prince William. Dishington’s teammate, shortstop Adam Kennedy (Cal State Northridge), had two hits and is batting .283 since being promoted from New Jersey a week ago.