JetHawks unstoppable

D'Backs' Williams has three hits, but Lancaster still winds 9th in row

By CHAD HOLCOMB
Valley Press Staff Writer

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Matt Williams did have three hits - including a solo home run in his first medical rehabilitation start. Nevertheless, Lancaster's hot bats and aggressive baserunning led to a 6-3 win in front of 4,308 fans Saturday night at The Hangar.

Even so, the big reason the Mavericks lost their 11th in a row and the JetHawks won their season-high ninth consecutive game was Lancaster starting pitcher Jeff Heaverlo.

Heaverlo, greeted by Williams' first-pitch leadoff single in the first, allowed eight hits in eight innings to become Lancaster's first eight-game winner.

"Heaverlo had just super stuff tonight," JetHawks pitching coach Scott Budner said. "He was doing a lot of things right. He's getting in a groove.

"He threw some good pitches (to Williams). The home run was a slider away. It was good, Williams just went down and golfed it."

Heaverlo, who struck out eight, was effective because of the limited number of Mavericks he let get on base.

After Williams' single in the first, Heaverlo (8-4) retired the next three batters. He walked Steve Neal to open the second, but followed by retiring the next six Mavericks.

With two on and no one out in the fourth, Heaverlo induced Neal into grounding into a double play and struck out Jeff Brooks.

Heaverlo allowed three singles in the fourth inning for the Mavericks' first run. With a chance to even the score with Williams, the All-Star hit Heaverlo's high fastball over the center-field fence in the seventh.

"In the first, I thought he would be looking, but I left the ball up," Heaverlo said of facing Williams. "It was cool fielding the ball and throwing out Matt Williams at first (in the third).

"I was disappointed I did not throw a changeup for a strike (when Williams homered). I don't like to give up any runs, but it was a good outing."

Lancaster (54-33, 14-3), which improved to 21 games over .500, opened the scoring in the first after Antonio Perez doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Terrmel Sledge.

The JetHawks broke open the game in the third inning with four runs on two hits and three Mavericks errors.

After Perez and Willie Bloomquist reached base, Sledge singled them both in. Sledge stole second and went to third on a Brad Cresse throwing error before Juan Silvestre drove him in with a single up the middle.

Lancaster added another run in the seventh inning off High Desert starter Hatuey Mendoza. After Perez walked with one out, Bloomquist doubled down the left-field line to score Perez.

Lancaster had a total of eight stolen bases, with three by Perez. Bloomquist and Sledge each had two and Craig Kuzmic one. Perez and Sledge were each caught stealing once.

Williams suffered a pulled right quadriceps muscle earlier in the season while on a rehab assignment with El Paso Diablos.

"I am here to make sure my leg is ready to go and I have no problems," said Williams, who will be the Mavericks' designated hitter today. "I got some good at-bats. It feels good.

"It's been a rough year. I just want to try and stay healthy to be able to play the entire second half."

This was Williams' fifth game in the California League. While with the San Francisco Giants, Williams had a four-game rehab stint with the San Jose Giants.

In the field Saturday night, Williams caught a line drive from Harvey Hargrove in the second and threw out Bloomquist on a grounder in the fourth.

Perez finished 2-for-3 with three runs. After Sledge's sacrifice fly in the first, the right fielder followed with three consecutive singles and finished with 3 RBI.

Silvestre (2-for-4) also had a good night at the plate.

Uploaded July 10, 2000