Hail Cesar as Oaks squeak by

Lancaster wasted another strong outing by starter Julio Ayala as Visalia's Dionys Cesar drove in three runs in the Oaks' extra-inning home victory.

Dionys Cesar, Visalia's No. 9 hitter, drove in the final three runs of the game - including the game-winner in the 10th inning - as Visalia evened the series with Lancaster with a 4-3 win before 429 on a chilly night at Recreation Park.

Lancaster reliever Allan Westfall (0-1) surrendered a leadoff walk to Adam Robinson in the bottom of the 10th. Former JetHawk David Skeels sacrificed Robinson to second, from where he scored on Cesar's double over the head of Mike Burrows in center field to end the game.

Cesar also drove in the gametying run in the eighth inning, ending Lancaster starter Julio Ayala's hope for his first victory of the season.

Much like they did Wednesday for Patrick Dunham, the JetHawks were hoping to give Ayala enough run support Thursday to help him notch that elusive first win.

Despite his 4.02 ERA, Ayala hadn't received any decisions in his previous three starts this season. Last season, he was 11-3 at Class A Wisconsin.

But unlike Dunham's outing Wednesday, Ayala actually struggled through the first three innings of his start.

Visalia loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning on two hits and a walk, but Ayala struck out Nick Sosa - his third strikeout of the inning - to end the threat.

In the second, Ayala allowed the Oaks runners on first and second with a hit and a walk. But once again, he got an inning-ending strikeout - this time against Eddie Lara.

Dave Slemmer finally got to Ayala in the bottom of the third inning with a leadoff home run. Slemmer's home run, his second of the season, just avoided the glove of Burrows, who leaped against the left-center field wall.

But much like they did for Dunham on Wednesday, the JetHawks immediately answered back, giving Ayala a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning.

Luis Tinoco and Cirilo Cruz Jr. got consecutive one-out singles before Brendan Kingman blasted a 1-0 pitch over the left-center field wall for a three-run homer.

Before that home run, Kingman's last hit came Saturday when the native of Sydney, Australia belted a game-winning grand slam against San Jose.

Ayala, who settled down after his early struggles, made that lead stand until he left with one out in the sixth inning after allowing a hit by Sosa, who later scored on Cesar's sacrifice fly.

Visalia tied the game and took Ayala out of the equation when Sosa led off the eighth with a single just out of reach of a diving Kingman at third base. Omar Rosario, who pinch ran for Sosa, moved to second when Kingman tried unsuccessfully to force him out at second on Skeels' ground ball.

Rosario moved to third a sacrifice bunt by Juan Camilo and scored on a infield single by Cesar, tying the game, 3-3.

Both teams struggled at the plate, as Visalia left 14 runners on base and Lancaster stranded 10.

Ayala allowed two earned runs on five hits and three walks in his 5 1/3 innings. He also struck out eight.