Manager's tirade fires up 'Hawks

By BRETT PAPE
Valley Press Staff Writer

One night after the JetHawks' manager exploded in a closed door meeting with his team after a 9-2 loss Monday, it was Lancaster's offensive explosion that stole the show with a 16-12 win over Visalia Tuesday night at The Hangar.

Center fielder P.J. Williams led the way, going 3-for-5 with five runs batted in. The five RBI was a season high for Williams.

The win coupled with San Bernardino's 7-3 loss to Modesto evened the JetHawks with the Stampede in the South Division second half standings. Both teams are atop the standings with identical 5-1 records.

"Our offense played pretty good. . .but I haven't had too much of a problem with the offense," Parent said. "I really believe that we have the potential to win night after night, so I'm not too excited about being 5-1.

"I'll be disappointed if we're not 6-1 after (tonight)."

The JetHawks wasted little time getting to Oaks starting pitcher Chris Enochs. Lancaster sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning on its way to grabbing a 6-0 lead.

Antonio Perez led the game off with his sixth home run of the season, all since returning to the team after breaking his left hand. The homer went over the 385-foot mark in left field.

Juan Silvestre, Bo Robinson, Williams and Perez added base hits in the inning. It was the first time this season that Perez had two hits in one inning.

After striking the side out in order in the first, Lancaster starter Enmanuel Ulloa gave up three runs on three hits in the second as the Oaks pulled within three at 6-3. Javier Flores led the assault, getting a two-out two-run triple to right field.

Lancaster answered right back, scoring four runs in the bottom of the frame to extend its lead to 10-4. Williams again led the way, driving in a pair of runs with a triple to right.

Williams was at it again in the bottom of the fourth, getting his fifth RBI of the night when he drove in Freddie May with a single to center. The JetHawks scored five runs in the inning to to take a 15-6 lead.

"I felt really good out there tonight," Williams said. "All I wanted to do was contribute and drive in runs when I get the chance."

Robinson's solo home run to center field in the fifth inning gave Lancaster a 16-6 lead. The homer was Robinson's seventh of the season.

Perez was 3-for-4 with three RBI for the JetHawks. He needed a triple to hit for the cycle.

Ulloa notched his fourth win of the season, giving up six runs on six hits in five innings of work. It was the first win for Ulloa since he beat Lake Elsinore on May 24.

Despite getting 10 runs in the first two innings, Ulloa seemed to struggle after the first inning. He gave three runs in the second and third innings to the Oaks.

He did throw a pair of scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth innings before leaving the game with a 16-6 lead. He finished with five strikeouts.

Aaron Looper relieved Ulloa in the sixth inning and looked sharp in the frame. He faced four batters and had one strikeout in the inning.

However, the right-hander gave up two runs in the seventh inning and four in the eighth as the Oaks made a game out of it, pulling within four at 16-12. Looper hit the first two batters he faced in the eighth.

Omar Obando restored order for the JetHawks, retiring four of the five batters he faced to record his first save of the season. Javier Flores was the only batter to reach base off Obando when he was hit in the forearm by a pitch.

Uploaded June 28, 2000