Homers fly, 'Hawks don't

Lancaster loses despite historic evening

By JON MICHAELS
Valley Press Assistant Sports Editor

The Blaze scored at least one run from the second through seventh innings, overcoming an impressive power display by the JetHawks.

Lancaster hit back-to-back-toback home runs in the third inning, the first time the feat has been accomplished in franchise history.

Terrmel Sledge started the flurry, crushing Tony Coscia's pitch well over the storage building in right field.

Juan Silvestre followed, smashing his long ball off the space shuttle portion of the scoreboard in left field. It was Silvestre's California League-leading eighth of the season. Silvestre finished 4-for-5 with the homer and an RBI triple.

Then Peanut Williams made JetHawks history by connecting for his fourth homer of the season, a blast high into the Lancaster sky to send the JetHawks to a 4-2 lead. It was Williams' first homer in 14 games.

"It was overshadowed in the next inning when they scored a run," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "The most important inning for a pitcher is the inning after your team scores. When your team scored you have to throw a zero. We couldn't do that."

The Blaze did just that, answering back in the top of the fifth inning. Ryan Luther and Nelson Castro singled off Jeff Heaverlo to begin the inning.

Scoop McDowell chased home both runners with a triple that sailed over the head of Silvestre in left field and pushed the Blaze ahead 5-4.

Jeremy Luster, who showed off his strength by homering off Heaverlo to lead off the second inning for Bakersfield's first run, used his speed to cash in another run.

With McDowell at third, Luster sent a grounder to Williams at first, and with Heaverlo reacting slowly to the play, Luster slid in safely to first. McDowell scored on the play for a 6-4 lead.

The outing was one of Heaverlo's toughest of the season. The right-hander went 4 innings, allowing six earned runs, walking three and striking out four. It as the first start in which Heaverlo (3-2) was unable to complete at least five innings.

"Heaverlo gave up a home run or two tonight, then he started to nibble," Parent said. "Then he forgets what he's supposed to do out there. . . the team concept, covering a base. That's when you have to bear down even more, when you don't have good stuff.

"I think he deserved some leeway from getting my wrath, but he got it. We'll see if that cuts it off."

Williams' RBI single plated Sledge in the bottom of the inning to slice the lead to 6-5, but Bakersfield quickly upped the lead again.

Guillermo Rodriguez led off the sixth with a double. One out later, Julio Cordido, who homered earlier in the game, smacked Kenny Rayborn's offering deep over the head of center fielder Harvey Hargrove, scoring Rodriguez.

Willie Bloomquist's relay throw to try and catch Cordido was errant, allowing the runner to cruise home for an 8-5 lead.

But Lancaster refused to go quietly, turning a questionable umpire's call into a run in the bottom of the sixth.

With Robert Gandolfo on second base after a double, Bloomquist stood at home and looked to be hit by a Manuel Bermudez offering. But the home plate umpire ruled the play a foul ball, much to the chagrin of Parent.

After a lengthy debate, Bloomquist returned to the batter's box and smacked an RBI single to right field.

But again, the Blaze flexed their muscles. Rodriquez crushed a Julio Ayala pitch off the scoreboard in the seventh for a two-run homer and a 10-6 lead.

Uploaded May 4, 2000