Even Heaverlo can't halt JetHawks' skid

Lancaster's poor defense hurt pitcher Jeff heaverlo and the JetHawks lost for the fifth time in six games.

Even right-handed pitcher Jeff Heaverlo, who had been nearly flawless in his first three starts of the season, has fallen victim.

Heaverlo, who came into Friday's road game against Rancho Cucamonga with a perfect 3-0 record and an impressive 0.56 ERA, came back down to Earth thanks to some poor defense as Lancaster fell 7-4 to the Quakes in front of 4,157 fans who braved the drizzling weather.

"Jeff pitched well enough to keep us in the game," JetHawks manager Mark Parent said. "It wasn't exactly the performance he had given in his first three starts, but I'll take that outing.

"I know he's not satisfied, and I'm not satisfied, but I'll take it."

It was fourth loss in the last five games for Lancaster (10-6). The streak follows a torrid stretch in which the team won eight of nine games.

"We made some physical errors (four), but they weren't mental," Parent said. "I can't fault them, they tried the best they could but couldn't make a couple plays they should have. We have to live with them and keep working hard."

The Quakes (8-8), who scored the only earned run against Heaverlo (3-1) this season on cleanup hitter Graham Koonce's home run last Sunday, turned to the bottom of their lineup for some quick pop.

Light-hitting Al Benjamin (.192, 2 RBI) connected for his first home run of the season to send Rancho Cucamonga out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning.

But Heaverlo's troubles were just beginning.

Rancho's ninth hitter, Jason Dunaway, launched a double over left fielder Juan Silvestre's head.

After leadoff hitter Jeremy Owens sacrificed Dunaway to third, Josh Loggins lifted a deep fly to right field, which Lancaster outfielder Michael Abate fielded deep enough into in foul territory to allow Dunawat to score and the Quakes to take a 2-0 lead.

Heaverlo then walked Alex Peleaz, who came home after consecutive singles by Koonce and Christian Berroa, the later of which plated Peleaz for a 3-0 lead.

Lancaster answered with an unearned run in the top of the fourth. Craig Kuzmic started the frame with his second single of the game, and came home on an error by Dunaway, the Quakes' second baseman.

Things unraveled even further for Heaverlo in the bottom of the fifth thanks to some shaky defense.

Owens led off with a seemingly harmless bunt to Heaverlo, but Peanut Williams was unable to coral the quick toss, allowing Owens to reach base.

Loggins followed by tapping a ball to Heaverlo, which the pitcher short hopped and skipped past Willie Bloomquist at second. One out later, Koonce rolled a ball to Bloomquist, who threw home to try and catch Owens.

But home plate umpire Kevin Sweeny ruled Lancaster catcher Scott Maynard missed the tag, handing the Quakes a 4-1 lead and setting off Maynard.

Visibly upset, Maynard had to be restrained by Heaverlo.

Luckily for Rancho starter pitcher Mike Bynum, his luck seemed to change as much as Heaverlo's.

Bynum, the Padres' first round selection in last year's amateur draft, did not live up to his billing early this season. Bynum entered Friday's game with an unusually high 5.28 ERA and an 0-2 record.

But, Bunum refused to lose to Heaverlo and the JetHawks for the second time in less than a week. The 6-foot-4 lefty shut down the Lancaster lineup.

He allowed two runs (both unearned) on six hits and struck out four.

Lancaster fought back for a pair of runs after Bynum's departure, scoring on consecutive groundouts by Bo Robinson and Harvey Hargrove. The Quakes added three runs in the seventh, highlighted by Peleaz's steal of home on the tail end of a double steal. Sean Campbell added an RBI double.

Lancaster's Julio Ayala (1-1, 3.52 ERA) takes the hill for the JetHawks tonight, his first start since Tommy John surgery ended his season last year before spring training.

"His breaking ball is looking strong," Lancaster pitching coach Scott Budner said. "He knows how to pitch. . . he goes inside and outside and knows how to work batters.

"I think he's pretty excited. We had a rainout and a doubleheader so he fit in."

Budner said Ayala will be limited to five innings or 75 pitches tonight.

Uploaded April 22, 2000