JetHawks find error of ways in defeat

Thanks to five errors, Lancaster watched a 6-1 lead evaporate in a loss Thursday night to High Desert

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

Who knew poor fielding was too?

The Lancaster JetHawks couldn't hold a 6-1 advantage and committed five fielding errors Thursday night as they fell to High Desert 11-8 in front of 2,128 fans at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

"We had a young guy (Guillermo Martinez) playing second trying to make the plays," manager Mark Parent said. "He's inexperienced. He misplayed a ground ball. He's just out there trying to make the plays. You can't fault him for that."

Lancaster's (17-11) loss and San Bernardino's (15-12) 11-5 win over Modesto gives the JetHawks a 1 1/2 game lead in the Cal League Southern Division.

Down 1-0 in the third inning, the JetHawks exploded for six runs in the bottom half of the inning. The scoring was capped off by a two-run single by Bo Robinson and a two-run home run from Craig Kuzmic to take a commanding 6-1 lead.

After giving up an early solo shot to Jhensy Sandoval, Lancaster starter Chris Mears appeared on his way to his third win. In the fifth, though, Mears (2-1) ran into trouble, giving up eight runs on six hits, to push the Mavericks ahead 9-6.

Five consecutive Mavericks came to the plate and drove in runs, including run scoring doubles by Robbie Hammock, Travis Oglesby and Sandoval.

Of the eight runs, only four were earned as Lancaster committed three of the team's five errors in the inning.

"Mears didn't have his best stuff and didn't know how to get out of the inning," Parent said. "We didn't help him much. That's part of turning the page."

Bo Robinson led off the bottom half of the fifth with a towering home run to left field, drawing Lancaster back within two at 9-7. Kuzmic also scored in the inning, on a wild pitch, to get the JetHawks to 9-8.

Robinson finished 2-for-5 with his first home run of the season and three runs batted in.

"The offense wasn't the problem today," Parent said, "we just gave them the game defensively."

Despite giving up all eight runs, High Desert starter Hatuey Mendoza (1-1) earned his first win of the season.

The Mavericks were able to plate a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth off of Lancaster reliever Cody Morrison.

Oglesby plated Hammock with a single in the eighth and Brian Gordon also came in to score on the play.

In the bottom of the ninth, Peanut Williams drew an opening walk, but Lancaster was unable to score in the inning.

Uploaded May 5, 2000