JetHawks start different kind of streak

Lancaster loses second in a row

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

After fighting back to send the game into extra innings, the JetHawks fell 6-5 to San Jose on Sunday in 11 innings at San Jose Municipal Stadium.

In the 11th, left fielder Alex Fajardo laced a single to right to bring home Tony Torcato with the wining run off of reliever Cody Morrison.

"We didn't play real smart tonight and we lost," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "Even if we had won that game, we didn't deserve it."

For San Jose, the one thing it could count on, in an otherwise dismal season, was closer Todd Ozias and his 18 saves.

With a one-run lead over Lancaster in the ninth, Ozias served up a solo home run to shortstop Antonio Perez to send the game into extra innings.

The win pushes Lancaster's record in extra innings frames to 8-2 this year.

After leading for all of the game, the JetHawks entered the eighth inning with a 4-3 lead.

But in the eighth, Lancaster reliever Aaron Looper had a rough go after getting Ryan Pini to ground out to open the inning.

Looper's next pitch hit catcher Mike Wright and he took third on the next at-bat after Robert Gandolfo threw away a grounder by designated hitter Clay Greene.

Gandolfo attempted to get the lead runner at second, Wright, but overthrew shortstop Antonio Perez on the play.

Both would eventually score to give San Jose the 5-4 lead.

"Loop's in there to get ground balls and he did (eight out of nine)," Parent said. "They just weren't at people."

Center fielder Scott Daeley followed with a double to right that scored Greene and Daeley would later come across on a single by first baseman Sean McGowan.

Greene also scored in the third, after he led that inning off with a single and was driven in by second baseman Joe Jester.

Lancaster starter Scott Atchison cruised into the seventh when a questionable call by base umpire John McMasters allowed Greene to reach base to open the inning.

"It was a bad call," Parent said. "But we've had bad calls all year, you can't let it get to you."

"He battled today, though, and I really appreciate the effort."

San Jose starter Joe Horgan was solid through six innings, giving up three runs on six hits.

His biggest mistake was a high fastball to left fielder Juan Silvestre that Silvestre deposited beyond left field for his league-high 23rd home run.

Horgan also looked rough out of the gate as he gave up three straight base hits to start the game, including a line-drive double off the wall by Perez to start the game.

Perez would score on the third hit of the inning, a single by Craig Kuzmic.

In the fourth, Lancaster threatened to score with runners on the corners with one out.

But P.J. Williams muffed a bunt and popped out to Horgan who doubled up catcher Scott Maynard at first base.

"I'm still not sure why P.J. was bunting there," Parent said after the game. "And I still don't know Scott was out.

"We just gave this game away tonight."

Uploaded July 17, 2000