'Hawks continue to surge

Despite making some costly mistakes, Lancaster was able to defeat High Desert Sunday afternoon.

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

Sure it was a win, but that didn't mean Lancaster manager Mark Parent was happy about it.

"We had too many bad mistakes (on Sunday)," Parent said. "Too many mental mistakes, too many pitching mistakes. Just too many bad ideas, period."

"There's going to be a host of changes (today) in the lineup, that's for sure."

After giving themselves a fourrun lead in the first, with help from a three-run home run from Juan Silvestre, the problems started for the JetHawks (48-33, 8-3).

In the top of the second, a pair of errors by shortstop Antonio Perez and a pair of walks issued by Lancaster starter Enmanuel Ulloa equaled a four-run inning for High Desert and a tied ball game.

"Perez decided to miss three signs and had some bad judgments on defense," Parent said. "He's one of the ones who's going to have to take a day off (today)."

On the day, the teams combined to commit seven errors while Lancaster walked three batters, all by Ulloa, and the Mavericks passed out 14 base-on-balls.

"We staked (Ulloa) to a four-run lead and he goes and gives it right back," Parent said. "I've said it time and again. The pitcher needs to shut down the other team after we score. It's the same thing every time, there's no improvement."

"They're going to have to start figuring it out. If you keep making the same mistake over and over, you might not ever get it into your head."

Ulloa (5-3) went five innings to earn the win giving up six runs, three earned and striking out five.

His opposite, High Desert starter Brian Scott lasted 3 innings giving up eight runs, seven earned with six of the 14 walks.

"That was probably the ugliest game of the year right there," third baseman Bo Robinson said. "It was bad on both sides. I guess we played a little better than they did.

"We didn't have that many hits but we had a lot of walks and those guys scored."

In the fifth, Silvestre drove in his fourth run of the game, the eventual game-winner, with a single to right that scored Willie Bloomquist. Silvestre drove in his 81st run, tops in the league. He also has a league-high 19 home runs with Sunday's shot.

"In a game like that. . . you have to look at every opportunity that comes up," Silvestre said. "I was looking for a first-pitch fastball. (Saturday) they gave me a firstpitch breaking ball. They tried to mix it up but the pitches were right there in the middle (of the plate)."

Reliever Caleb Balbuena finished the game for Lancaster and earned his first save as a JetHawk, tossing a scoreless final two innings with one hit while inducing all-star Jeff Brooks into a gameending double play.

The JetHawks' running game took advantage of young Mavericks catcher Brad Cresse on Sunday, swiping five-of-six steals attempted.

Uploaded July 3, 2000