JetHawks feel tremor in loss to the Quakes

Lancaster blew a strong outing from starting pitcher Enmanuel Ulloa as Rancho Cucamonga sent the JetHawks to their third loss in their last four games.

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

For the second time in six days, Ulloa faced Rancho Cucamonga but failed to earn a decision on Thursday night. The JetHawks fell 10-9 in front of 3,422 at the Epicenter.

Reliever Brandon Parker blew his first save of the year in six tries by walking in Josh Loggins, the wining run, in the bottom of the ninth. The loss is Lancaster's (10-5) third in four games.

After striking out 10 Quakes on Saturday, Rancho Cucamonga (7-8) looked as if it had figured out Ulloa (1-0) early on.

The Quakes were able to get one run in each of the first two innings. Center fielder Jeremy Owens led off the bottom of the first with a double off of the left-field fence. Right-fielder Loggins followed by singling in Owens and tying the game at 1-1.

In the second, the Quakes used a leadoff single from Sean Campbell and an RBI single from Jason Dunaway to give Rancho Cucamonga a 2-1 lead.

The JetHawks, however, bounced back with three runs in the top of the third, courtesy of an RBI single from Juan Silvestre and a two-run double from Peanut Williams to build a 4-2 lead.

Ulloa took care of the rest.

Over the next five innings, he slowed the Quakes offense to a grinding halt. Ulloa faced just 16 batters, one over the minimum in those five innings, allowed two hits and retired the side in order four times.

"Ulloa pitched a hell of a ballgame for seven innings," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "It was just an ugly game for us."

Ulloa was relieved by Neil Longo in the eighth. Longo entered the game and got Dunaway to fly out. Nut he proceeded to give up six straight hits and six runs to bring the Quakes within one at 9-8 to make the game interesting.

Despite Longo's disastrous work, Parker (0-1) still earned the loss.

"We should have thrown strikes and made them hit the ball," Parent said. "Our offense did a good job and so did (Ulloa)."

After Scott Maynard walked to start the sixth, Terrmel Sledge singled for his second hit of the game. Sledge finished 3-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs.

Second baseman Willie Bloomquist got his first hit of the night with one out to continue the inning for the JetHawks and to load the bases for Williams. Williams delivered with a two-run single to left.

Craig Kuzmic followed with a two-run single of his own to give Lancaster an 8-2 lead. Bloomquist finished with three walks and four runs.

The JetHawks threatened to score in the top of the ninth, but Bloomquist flew out and Silvestre struck out to end the inning.

Lancaster was able to get another first-inning run on Thursday after Silvestre brought in Bloomquist on a triple off of the left-field wall.

Silvestre finished the night with two RBI, giving him a Cal League leading 20.

Uploaded April 21, 2000