'Hawks win; Matos called to Class AA

By ALAN HENDRY
Valley Press Staff Writer

The JetHawks wrapped up their first-ever, first-half title with a 13-6 victory over Lake Elsinore before the All-Star break.

The two teams squared off Thursday night to kick off the second half of the season with the JetHawks picking up a 3-2 victory before 4,901 at Pete Lehr Field.

The victory was overshadowed by the promotion of JetHawks pitcher Josue Matos to Class-AA New Haven of the Eastern League. Matos, the winning pitcher in Sunday's first half-clinching victory over Lake Elsinore, leaves with a 3-3 record, a 2.64 earned run average and 93 strikeouts. He had been the JetHawks most consistent starter.

Lancaster second baseman Willie Bloomquist scored on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Juan Silvestre in the eighth inning.

Silvestre extended his Cal League-leading RBI total to 68.

Bloomquist put the JetHawks on the board in the fourth inning. After leading off the inning with a single, Bloomquist stole his 13th base of the season. An errant throw by Storm catcher Angel Diaz allowed Blooomquist to take third and, when center-fielder Elpidio Guzman overran the ball, Bloomquist scored.

"He means a lot to our team," JetHawks manager Mark Parent said of Bloomquist. "He seems to get us going when we need it."

And Bloomquist also came through defensively, making a diving catch to rob Lake Elsinore right fielder Robb Quinlan of a base hit in the ninth inning.

The JetHawks also received a fine performance from starting pitcher Enmanuel Ulloa.

Ulloa struck out five batters and walked two in six innings of work, surrendering one earned run.

Parent said Ulloa was pulled because of a blister on his throwing hand, a problem that Ulloa has had earlier in his career.

His performance offset an outstanding display by Lake Elsinore's John Lackey.

Lackey (5-3) struck out 10 and gave up five hits, but also walked four.

Allan Simpson (3-2) picked up the win for the Lancaster, after giving up one run in the seventh inning.

Simpson walked two in the inning, one to force in a run, and gave up a single, but escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam with a 1-2-3 double play.

The JetHawks threatened early, when shortstop Antonio Perez led off the first with a triple, but a fly ball that was apparently trapped by Quinlan was ruled an out.

The officials also ruled that Perez left third base too early, giving the Storm a double play.

"That should have been a run," Parent said. "I wouldn't exactly call that a break."

In other roster moves over the break, second baseman Robert Gandolfo was activated from the disabled list. Gandolfo hit .194 in 19 games before going on the DL.

To make room for Gandolfo second baseman Guillermo Martinez was sent to Everett, Washington. Martinez was hitting .219 in 30 games, with 13 RBIs on 21 hits, but struck out 25 times and committed seven errors.

Uploaded June 23, 2000