JetHawks turn on the power, 12-0

After a power surge cut off the lights at The Hangar, the JetHawks scored 12 runs for pitcher Enmanuel Ulloa, who keyed the shutout.

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

Lancaster and Rancho Cucamonga were in the third inning of a 1-0 game when a power surge knocked out a bank of lights at Lancaster Municipal Stadium, forcing a 20 minute delay to rectify the situation.

The JetHawks were able to shake off the delay to the delight of 3,808 at the Hangar for a 12-0 win.

At the time of the dealy, Lancaster starter Enmanuel Ulloa had two outs with a man on third.

When the lights came on Ulloa disposed of Jeremy Owens, by getting him to fly out, for the third out.

"I'm having great control with my fastball," Ulloa said. "I really had command with all my pitches."

Rancho Cucamonga starter Ben Howard lost some obvious edge to his pitching when he came back in the bottom half of the inning.

He started off by walking Willie Bloomquist and Juan Silvestre back-to-back.

He settled down though after Bloomquist was caught stealing third and he struck out Peanut Williams and Craig Kuzmic to end the inning.

The JetHawks, though, would do most of their damage in the seventh inning off Quakes reliever Keith Forbes.

Lancaster got to Forbes for six runs, all unearned, to take a commanding 7-0 lead.

Forbes troubles in the inning started after he uncorked a wild pitch that scored catcher Scott Maynard from third.

They continued with backtoback run-scoring singles from Juan Silvestre and Peanut Williams and ended with a three-run bomb from designated hitter Craig Kuzmic to right field.

But Kuzmic's night was far from over.

After Michael Abate sent a solo home run over the left field fence off Rancho Cucamonga reliever Keith Volkman, Antonio Perez and Bloomquist followed with singles.

Two batters later Peanut Williams walked to load the bases for Kuzmic.

"(Friday night) was the first night that I felt truly comfortable at the plate," Kuzmic said. "And with this tonight it's really going to get me going."

He delivered with his second home run of the day to give the JetHawks a seemingly insurmountable 12-0 lead.

Kuzmic more than tripled his RBI total from three to 10 with the home runs.

For Williams, his single broke a recent 0-for-14 slump at the plate.

He struck out in his first three trips to the plate on Saturday, all against Howard.

For the fourth game in a row, Lancaster was able to get its leadoff man on and around in the first.

Shortstop Antonio Perez led the game off for Lancaster with a flare single to right.

He stole second and Willie Bloomquist followed with a walk.

The pair executed a perfect double steal to set up a sacrifice to center field for Silvestre and the game's first run.

Silvestre now has 10 runs batted in, in his last five games. His total of 14 was tops in the Cal League entering Saturday's game.

For Lancaster the win is its second shutout in 10 games

Uploaded April 17, 2000