Bloomquist returns to lift JetHawks

Lancaster's Willie Bloomquist scored two runs and hit the game-winning double

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

They even managed a 5-2 record on their northern road trip without him.

Ah, but it's nice to have the man back.

Bloomquist roped a two-run double in the eighth inning Sunday to give the JetHawks an 8-6 win over San Bernardino before a Mother's Day crowd of 1,838 at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

The win allows Lancaster to hold its three-game lead over Rancho Cucamonga in the Southern Division.

"I understood going in that I was only going to be there seven to 10 days," Bloomquist said. "I enjoyed the time that I was up there.

"I came back a little sooner than I expected, but I understand."

In his first game back on Saturday, Bloomquist drew the collar going 0-for-4, but didn't hinder the team's 5-1 win.

"I wasn't mentally focused and locked in to play on Saturday," Bloomquist said. "I wanted to play, I was ready to play, I just wasn't all there mentally.

"That even carried over into the first half today."

Bloomquist grounded out and popped out in his first two at-bats Sunday.

"Again I couldn't get going, I had to kick myself in the behind to get things going. I went and threw some water on my face and had a little chat with myself.

"It's something that I just had to get it in my head."

In the fifth, Bloomquist finally got it going with a triple to left that scored Freddy May, bringing the JetHawks within one at 5-4.

We certainly score more runs when he's out there," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "It's nice to have him back. Infield takes a lot longer now though with four guys in the middle."

Through a good part of last week's road trip, Parent had Corey Freeman and Guillermo Martinez available up the middle. Since then he has added Bloomquist and a mostly healthy Robert Gandolfo back to the lineup.

Lancaster starter Chris Mears had a rough day out on the hill Sunday.

Mears gave up five runs, all earned, in five innings, including a solo home run by Max Mejia to lead off the fourth for the Stampede.

"We tried to give that game away so many times early," Parent said. "Mears didn't have his best stuff today but the bullpen kept us in there."

Aaron Looper relieved Mears to start off the sixth. He went two innings giving up one run.

Cody Morrison (3-1) entered the game and threw a scoreless eighth to earn the win.

"Cody did his job today," Lancaster pitching coach Scott Budner said. "He's a groundball pitcher and he got two groundouts today. What more can you ask for?"

Parent called in Allan Simpson with a save on the line in the ninth. Regular closer Brandon Parker had pitched the two previous days and was unavailable Sunday.

Simpson made good on Parent's choice by throwing a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season.

"Simp threw very well for us," Parent said. "We've got a lot of flexibility out there."

Uploaded May 15, 2000