Heaverlo tabbed for Game 1 start

Jeff Heaverlo will get the ball for game one Friday at Lancaster with Melqui Torres getting the second start also at the Hangar on Saturday.

"Torres has been competing very well at home and Heaverlo has done fairly well at home," Parent said. "Torres deserves to get a start in front of the home crowd the way he's pitched there."

For game three, Chris Mears will start and if a game four is needed, Scott Atchison will start.

"Mears has kept us in the game on the road recently, even though his record hasn't shown it," Parent said. "I think he has a better shot either here (in Lake Elsinore) or at San Bernardino."

Where Parent is indecisive is if the series goes to a fifth game. Enmanuel Ulloa has been the fifth starter all year but his recent struggles and Caleb Balbuena's strong appearances have Parent rethinking the rotation.

"It's still up in the air for me over who'll start game five," Parent said. "If it goes five games, I might start (Caleb) Balbuena in that fifth game.

"I like what he gives us as a starter and as a reliever. I think he has the potential to do either one but I think for us, he might be more effective as a starter. I'll make up my mind Sunday night or Monday if it'll be Balbuena or Ulloa."

On Sunday, the final regular game of the season, the JetHawks travel to rival San Bernardino. There, Heaverlo will start the game, on three days rest, and go two or three innings before Balbuena gets some work in.

"They're both going to get about two or three innings on Sunday," Parent said. "After that, the bullpen will finish the game off. We want to get as much work as possible for all our pitchers before the break."

After Sunday, the JetHawks will not play again until Friday when they face the winner of the three-game San Bernardino and Lake Elsinore series at home.

During the week, though, Lancaster will work out on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as a team with simulation games on the last two days.

Uploaded September 2, 2000