Lancaster can't hold Giant lead

San Jose rallied to score three runs in the seventh inning, spoiling another solid outing by starter Chris Mears, who again saw the bullpen blow his victory. It was only Lancaster's third loss in 12 games this year.

By CHAD HOLCOMB
Valley Press Staff Writer

Mears, who left the game set up for his first win of the season, gave way to the bullpen and the San Jose Giants took advantage, using a three-run rally in the seventh inning to snap a four-game losing streak in a 5-3 win at The Hangar.

"Chris Mears got us to where we wanted to be tonight," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "They did to us what we've been doing to others.

"They made things happen and we messed up. It got to a point that we weren't aggressive."

Mears, who won 13 games last season for Wisconsin and Lancaster, pitched six solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits, and striking out five in his third start of the season.
Julio Ayala relieved Mears in the seventh and fell into a hole quickly.

Ayala (0-1) allowed two hits and hit Joe Jester to load the bases with one out.

San Jose's Carlos Mendoza singled to center to bring in the Giants first run of the seventh. Alejandro Fajardo then scored on a Tony Torcato fielder's choice. Sean McGowan followed with his first hit of the night, an RBI single to left.

Earlier, Lancaster pounded San Jose starter Joe Horgan with four consecutive hits to open the JetHawks' three-run second inning.

After Peanut Williams and Craig Kuzmic singled, Bo Robinson singled in Williams. Harvey Hargrove then doubled into the left-field corner to score Kuzmic. Robinson would score on Scott Maynard's groundout.

But Horgan (3-0) would settle down and allow just three hits over his final 4 innings. Horgan, who joined Lancaster's Jeff Heaverlo as the only Cal League pitchers with a 3-0 record, went 6 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and struck out four.

Horgan gave way to Matt Wells and then Todd Ozias picked up his third save with two strikeouts in the ninth.

San Jose's John Summers had a one-out double, driving in two in the fourth to cut Lancaster's lead to 3-2.

"It was nice (to jump ahead 3-0), but the game's nine innings," Parent said. "We've had to come back before, it can be done at any time.

"We played like A-ball guys tonight. We haven't played like Aball guys. I hope it won't happen again."

San Jose pitching really settled down after the three-run second by the JetHawks.

Lancaster managed just four hits over the final seven innings. The JetHawks were retired in order in the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth innings.

The JetHawks (9-3) had won every game so far this season when they scored first. The loss followed a two-game sweep of Rancho Cucamonga and was the second at The Hangar this season.

"I don't know why, but we've really had troubles with lefthanders," Parent said. "There pitcher really settled in. We just seem to be taking a lot of third strikes with runners in scoring position."

San Jose pitching struck out eight JetHawks.

Williams and Robinson each had two hit for Lancaster. Kuzmic, who had back-to-back three-hit games, was 1-for-2 with a run.

Uploaded April 19, 2000