LANCASTER – The JetHawks used a pair of home runs to take an early lead on Opening Night 2019, but ultimately came up short, 7-4, against the Modesto Nuts Thursday.

Austin Bernard and Luis Castro each went deep in the third inning before the Nuts rallied for the win.

Lancaster (0-1) trailed after the first half-inning, as Modesto’s Cal Raleigh homered for the first score of the season. The JetHawks answered in the bottom of the frame, tying the game on a Casey Golden double.

The JetHawks flexed their muscles in the third with two solo home runs to go up, 3-1. Austin Bernard led off the inning with a homer in his Lancaster debut, and Luis Castro hit one of his own three batters later. Bernard reached base in all four of his plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks.

The lead lasted until the sixth inning when Modesto (1-0) scored three times on four hits to go on top. The visitors added two more in the seventh. Nate Harris (0-1) was on the hook for all five runs after pitching in relief of starter Will Gaddis.

Modesto’s Ljay Newsome (1-0) tied a career-high with nine strikeouts in five innings to earn the win. He threw just 63 pitches in his second consecutive Opening Night start at The Hangar. Sam Delaplane earned the save, capping off a 15-strikeout performance from Nuts’ pitching.

The season-opening four-game series continues Friday night, with the JetHawks playing as “El Viento de Lancaster” for the first time. Righty Garrett Schilling is scheduled to pitch for Lancaster against Modesto’s Ian McKinney. First pitch is at 6:35 pm.

JetHawks single-game tickets, group tickets, ticket packages and season tickets are on sale now. Visit jethawks.com or call 661-726-5400 for more information.