JetHawks blow chances, lose

Chris Mears walked seven and Lancaster failed to take advantage of seven Visalia errors.

Lancaster starter Chris Mears recorded a team season high of seven walks in five innings, including the leadoff man in each of the first three innings.

The Visalia defense also struggled, committing seven errors on the night.

For Mears it wasn't costly, as he left the game after five innings with a 3-2 lead.

For the Oaks, a four-error fifth inning nearly cost them the game, but they buckled down for a 6-4 win over the JetHawks at Recreation Park.

The loss drops Lancaster back into a first-place tie with San Bernardino the Cal League South Division.

Lancaster reliever Kenny Rayborn (4-1), solid for manager Mark Parent most for the season, gave up a pair of runs, including the eventual game winner in the seventh for his first loss of the season.

Rayborn relieved Mears in the sixth and retired the side to start.

But Raybornin ran into trouble in the seventh, surrendering a two-out, two-run single to Rafael Pujols to give the Oaks the lead for good at 4-3.

Rayborn and Allan Simpson were both touched for insurance runs in the eighth, as Visalia extended its lead late in the game.

"Rayborn's been solid for us all year," Parent said. "He just didn't have it. He's been our guy in that spot for long relief.

"I'm not down about it because I know he'll bounce back in his next outing. He's stayed away from the head of the bat recently so I went with him, it just didn't work out."

In the top of the fifth, Lancaster was unable to full take advantage of Visalia's defensive generosity, plating two runs in the inning.

Robert Gandolfo and P.J. Williams both reached base by infield errors. Gandolfo scored on a groundout by Corey Freeman and Williams came home on an error by left-fielder Kirk Asche.

"Freeman had some good situational hitting for us tonight," Parent said. "But we just left to many guys on base tonight. We popped up and didn't hit the ball when we needed to on the hit-and-run."

The JetHawks gave Mears a one-run cushion to start with, in the top of the first inning.

P.J. Williams led the game off with a single, swiped second and scored on Bo Robinson's single.

Mears didn't take advantage though, walking Esteban German to start the bottom half of the inning.

German would score on a sacrifice fly to right by Josh Hochesang to tie the game at 1-1.

The Oaks took a 2-1 lead in the third after Mears again walked German to start the inning, and brought him home after issuing a bases-loaded walk to Omar Rosario.

"Mears gave them seven extra base runners tonight,' Parent said. "He just didn't have it tonight. He was all over the place and not helping us out."

In the ninth, Lancaster threatened to mount a comeback after Williams led off the inning with a single to center. After advancing to second on a balk, Williams came around to score on a single by Terrmel Sledge to draw the JetHawks within two at 6-4.

But Visalia reliever Corey Miller got Juan Silvestre and Robinson to strikeout to end the game.

Uploaded June 3, 2000