JetHawks pound Mavs into submission

Milqui Torres settled down in his return to Lancaster, helping the JetHawks easily defeat High Desert.

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

At press time through 6 innings, the JetHawks led the Mavericks 16-4 at Lancaster Municipal Stadium and seemed to put their Mavericks woes behind them.

Starter Melqui Torres' return to the club was far from triumphant, but he was solid nonetheless.

Torres gave up a run in each of the first three frames but settled down to go scoreless in the following three innings.

Torres finished with four strikeouts, scattering eight hits and walking one.

Down 3-0 after 2 1/2 innings, the JetHawks bounced back to put up a five spot in the bottom of the third, helping Torres settle in with a lead.

High Desert starter Mike Rooney walked three straight batters to load the bases for Terrmel Sledge who laced a two-run double to get Lancaster on the board.

Juan Silvestre followed with his league-leading 18th home run of the season - a three run blast off the scoreboard in left. The hit pushed his league-high RBI total to 77.

After putting up three more in the fifth, on a scoring grounder from Silvestre and a two-run triple from Harvey Hargrove, Lancaster erupted in the sixth for eight runs off of relievers Rob Shabansky and Justin Kees.

High Desert failed to record an out in the inning until catcher Scott Maynard, the ninth Lancaster batter in the inning, struck out.

Leadoff man Antonio Perez doubled twice in the inning, collecting three RBI on the way and P.J. Williams scored twice, smacking a double down the right-field line to start the debacle.

To start the seventh, Parent pulled Silvestre from the game to rest his still ailing left hamstring, inserting Freddie May into his place.

The JetHawks got their first look at recent Arizona draftee Brad Creese, son of longtime Dodger bullpen coach Mark Creese.

"I remember seeing that kid three or four years ago at Dodger Stadium taking batting practice," Lancaster skipper Mark Parent said. "He looked like a prospect back then."

Creese was selected in the fifth round this year and quickly made the jump from College World Series champion Louisiana State to High Desert arriving to play the JetHawks last Sunday.

After a quick start, he has tapered off, grounding out three times on Friday, including a double play in the fifth.

Uploaded July 3, 2000