JetHawks slip into first home loss of season

One slip allowed two runs to score and another ended a possible ninth-inning rally as the JetHawks' six-game winning streak came to an end Friday night with a 3-2 loss to the Mudville Nine at The Hangar.

With one out in the ninth, Lancaster's Bo Robinson lined a Ryan Poe delivery for a clean double down the left field line.

Robinson rounded second hard and was caught in a rundown after Mudville left fielder Kevin Moore got the ball into the infield in a hurry.

Harvey Hargrove followed, reaching on an error. Poe threw a wild pitch before retiring Craig Kuzmic with a groundout to end the game.

"Bo knew there was just one out, he was just running hard," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "He just took it a little too hard.

"If these guys make mistakes, that doesn't bother me because they are aggressive and going about their business in the right way."

Mudville's Jeff Deardorff hit a one-out triple of Lancaster reliever Aaron Looper in the eighth. Nick Caiazzo followed with a sacrifice fly to center to score Deardorff with the winning run.

The JetHawks' initial slip was a third-inning wild pitch by starter Josue Matos, compounded by a throwing error by Scott Maynard.

After loading the bases, Matos had the opportunity to get out of the jam. His wild pitch scored Frank Jaramillo from third, and Maynard's throw to get Jaramillo was away from Matos, scoring Jason Fox for a 2-0 lead.

The JetHawks (7-2) had troubles figuring out Mudville starter James Johnson.

Johnson threw five innings of one-hit ball, striking out nine before being replaced by Brian Mallette.

Lancaster welcomed him in the sixth with a double by Willie Bloomquist and a two-run homer by Juan Silvestre to tie the game 2-2.

Matos took a no decision in his first home start, throwing six innings allowing four hits, two unearned runs and striking out five.

Matos looked strong in the early innings, striking out the side in the second inning and two in the fourth. The JetHawks didn't pull out their second consecutive sweep, but have won the season's opening three series'.

"The strong start gives the guys confidence to know they can compete with them," Parent said. "We've had success early and that's good."

Uploaded April 15, 2000