Shutout wraps up Modesto's sweep of JetHawks

Modesto's Mario Ramos shutout the JetHawks as the A's completed a sweep of the three-game series.

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

The Modesto A's were looking to avenge being swept by Lancaster in the first week of the season.

Neither team looked anxious to give way as their respective starters, Lancaster's Enmanuel Ulloa and Modesto's Mario Ramos, dug in for a pitcher's duel.

Modesto, the first-half north division champs, took a 2-0 win and a three-game sweep of Lancaster as the two squads combined for seven hits at John Thurman Field before a crowd of 3,617.

"It's about winning and losing," Lancaster skipper Mark Parent said. "Their pitcher did a good job. Our pitcher did a good job. We didn't have the opportunity to make mistakes on the bases tonight.

"I'm not really enamored with our hitting coach right now," Parent said jokingly.

Ramos (10-5) baffled the suddenly anemic Lancaster offense Saturday, limiting it to two hits and nailing down the first shutout for Modesto this year.

"It was just an outstanding job," Modesto (17-19, 56-50) manager Greg Sparks said. "The way he was throwing, he was just so strong tonight."

Ramos' stint extended his scoreless-innings streak to 18 as he also entered the game riding a sevengame winning streak.

The complete game is the teams' first since Julian Leyva went all the way to close out the 1998 season, a stretch of 246 games.

He also set a season team-high by striking out 14, including three in the final frame to close out the game.

"For him to throw only 116 pitches and have 14 punchouts is amazing in a complete game," Modesto pitching coach Glenn Abbott said.

In the eighth, it looked as though Lancaster (27-9, 67-39) may have finally gotten to Ramos with a two-out rally.

Catcher Scott Maynard reached on an error by shortstop Caonabo Cosme on a flare to left with two outs. Harvey Hargrove, who singled to right, giving Lancaster its first runner in scoring position, followed him.

But Ramos stayed true to form, striking out Antonio Perez to end the threat.

"I'm just out there trying to give us a chance to win," Ramos said. "I try not think about (the sweep), but it's tough.

"We know we had a chance to sweep. I just want us to get the respect I think we've earned this half."

Ulloa struck out nine in six innings, but left the game down 2-0 and eventually lost. He was chased after giving up a solo home run to Ryan Ludwick and a single to Jon Schaeffer to start the seventh.

Ulloa had won five straight and last lost on June 5 at home to the A's 4-2, also against Ramos.

Over the series, the Modesto pitching staff brought the league's top offense to a standstill.

The JetHawks managed two runs in three games, both coming in the second game. Lancaster has been shut out three times this year, twice in the just-completed series.

The sweep also represents a three-game losing streak for Lancaster, its longest since a seasonhigh four-game skid in June.

Uploaded July 31, 2000