JetHawks rally to force extra innings

Scott Maynard's two-single scored Peanut Williams with the winning run in the 12th inning as Lancaster tied the club record for most wins in the month of July.

By CHAD HOLCOMB
Valley Press Staff Writer

Fittingly, the game was against the San Bernardino Stampede, a team that has been the JetHawks' nemesis all season long - except at The Hangar.

Scott Maynard made his only hit of the night pay off, scoring Peanut Williams in the bottom of the 12th inning on a two-out single for a 6-5 win in front of 3,610 fans.

The JetHawks, now 18-3 this month, tied the win mark set by the 1997 team that finished the month 18-11.

Lancaster has now beaten the Stampede at The Hangar in six of seven games this season and improved to 9-3 in the extra-inning games. San Bernardino continues to struggle (2-7).

"Maynard came through for us big-time tonight," manager Mark Parent said. "We had some chances to win it tonight and so did they. We just happened to win tonight."

Craig Kuzmic proved his value as a utility man in the top of the 12th inning.

After Caleb Balbuena allowed a single and double, an intentional walk loaded the bases for closer Brandon Parker. Parker got Stampede David Ross to hit one to Kuzmic at third. Kuzmic stepped on the bag and threw to first for the inning-ending double play.

"We had some real big defensive plays tonight with Gandolfo and Kuzmic," Parent said. "Kuzmic was thinking home to first, but he made a very athletic play there."

Parker, who tied the franchise mark for saves with 18 on Tuesday, picked up his second win in two-thirds of an inning.

Lancaster's Freddi May, released from San Bernardino in May, drove in the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.

Antonio Perez had a one-out infield singled in the bottom of the ninth inning. After a passed ball, May singled to right to score Perez.

May, missed a hold sign from Parent coming around third on a single by Kuzmic and was thrown out at the plate easily to end the inning and a chance to win.

Lancaster tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning off reliever Jonathan Berry.

Craig Kuzmic opened with a double down the left-field line past third baseman Ramon Ruiz. Bo Robinson then followed with his second of three hits to left to score Kuzmic.

San Bernardino had taken a 4-3 lead with a two-run fifth inning.

Ryan Jaroncyk opened with a single to right and advanced to third when a Torres pickoff throw got past Kuzmic at first.

Joe Thurston then hit a grounder to Kuzmic, who had problems getting the ball out of his glove, allowing Jaroncyk to score. Thurston scored two batters later on a fielder's choice by Ingram.

Lancaster took its first lead of the game in the third inning on a clutch two-out single up the middle by Robinson. The JetHawks loaded the bases on a single by May, a fielder's choice by Juan Silvestre and a walk by Kuzmic before Robinson delivered the Mike Fischer pitch to center.

Robinson finished 3-for-4 with three singles and 3 RBI.

Antonio Perez, who had an infield single in the ninth to start a Lancaster threat, opened the JetHawks'first with his 12th home run.

It was the hot-hitting Lamont Matthews who made Torres pay for an errant pitch in the first inning. Matthews hit his eighth homer of July and his seventh in his last nine games with one out, scoring Jimmy Gonzalez, who doubled.

Torres (3-3) pitched six solid innings, allowing just four runs, two earned, on eight hits. Torres walked two and struck out three.

The right-hander settled down after the first inning, allowing just one hit over the next three innings.

Perez was 3-for-5 with two runs. May, Sledge and Silvestre each had two hits.

Silvestre is still seeking to tie the franchise mark for RBI in a season.

Scott Maynard, who has had the hottest bat against the Stampede this season (.522), was held hitless in three at bats.

He's been a little more aggressive, which is to Parent's liking.

Uploaded July 23, 2000