'Hawks can't solve Mavs' dominance

Lancaster starting pitcher Chris Mears gave up four runs as the JeHawks dropped to 1-3 this season against High Desert.

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

For this year's Lancaster JetHawks, that team is the High Desert Mavericks.

In four games this year, Lancaster is 1-3 against the last-place team in the South Division - a trend that continued Sunday with a 4-2 loss at Maverick Stadium.

The Mavericks pounced on Lancaster starter Chris Mears for four early runs and needed no more as the JetHawks again struggled to hit left-handed pitching.

Mavericks starter Jason Jensen fell behind early, 2-0, after an inning and a half, but settled in to hold Lancaster scoreless until he left after the sixth.

"I don't know what it is with us and left-handed pitching," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said of his lineup. "I'm not sure when we'll figure it out.

"There's something about those guys, we get behind and can't come back."

No JetHawk had two hits on Sunday and three, including Willie Bloomquist, drew the collar.

"Sometimes I wonder if these guys are made of the
stuff we think they are," Parent said. "Being in first place and the No. 1 team in the power rankings, it's a day-in, day-out grind and sometimes I wonder."

Mears' woes on the mound continued to a lesser extent with his start Sunday, getting chased after four innings and four runs.

Mears finally did find some semblance of control that had been missing from his past few starts, but still walked three with one strikeout.

"Mears didn't pitch that bad today," Parent said, "We just didn't play well behind him."

He was relieved in the fifth by Kenny Rayborn.

Rayborn (4-0) has been nothing short of spectacular after a shaky start early in the year at Bakersfield.

"He came up to me the next day after that game in Bakersfield and said 'Mr. Parent, that won't happen again. I promise sir,' " Parent said. "It hasn't since.

"It's like a never-ending record with him and good outings. He always does the job we ask him to do.

"If the organization asked me which player should go to DoubleA or Triple-A, I'd say Kenny in a New York minute."

Rayborn feels his game has come together nicely thus far.

"I've been just trying to throw strikes and keep us in the game," Rayborn said. "It's all you can do I guess.

"I ended up being real dominating today even though I felt like I didn't have anything."

In the eighth, Rayborn ran into a bit of trouble after giving up a walk and single with two outs, prompting Parent to visit his pitcher.

"I went out to talk to him on the mound and the umpire said, 'Don't take him out.' He goes after guys and (is fearless out there)."

On Sunday, Parent had trouble getting his offense to recognize signs and other fundamental plays.

"We just had too many 'extended spring,' mistakes," Parent said. "If they want to stick around, it can't happen anymore."

Outfielder Harvey Hargrove knocked a double down the thirdbase line in the second to drive in Terrmel Sledge for the game's first run. For Hargrove, the double was his first extra-base hit in 19 games.

Uploaded May 22, 2000