JetHawks' Mears has best outing in 2-1 win

Chris Mears had his best outing of the year, working 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball to lead Lancaster past Rancho Cucamonga

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

On Saturday, Mears got that game.

He dominated Rancho Cucamonga for his second win of the year, a 2-1 victory over the Quakes before 3,016 fans at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

Mears got his first win of the year last Sunday as part of Lancaster's 24-9 thrashing of Visalia.

To start the game Saturday though, Mears looked a little shaky, giving up a leadoff triple to Jeremy Owens to start the game.

Owens would score to give Rancho an early 1-0 lead on a groundout to second by shortstop Alex Pelaez.

The JetHawks would come back to even up the game for Mears in the bottom half of the inning.

Robert Gandolfo reached to open the bottom of the inning on a throwing error by Pelaez.

Gandolfo would then work his way to third with a pair of stolen bases.

After Willie Bloomquist struck out, and Terrmel Sledge grounded up, Juan Silvestre again came through for Lancaster with a runscoring single to center, bringing in Gandolfo.

Bloomquist would strikeout three times Saturday, the first time he had done so all year.

Mears handcuffed the Quakes the rest of the way until the ninth, when Brandon Parker came on to strike out two of the three batters he faced while recording his league-leading seventh save.

On the night, Mears scattered six hits in 7 innings, striking out four and walking one.

Allan Simpson came in to relieve Mears in the eighth, getting Pelaez to fly out to Hargrove in center field to end the inning.

Lancaster would get another run for Mears in the second when Harvey Hargrove scored on a single by Mike Abate.

Uploaded May 1, 2000