Hawks streak hits five

Bakersfield extended the JetHawks' losing streak to a season-high five games.

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

For the second night in a row, the JetHawks did not have enough juice in the ninth, falling 12-11 to the Blaze before a crowd of 793 at Sam Lynn Ball Park.

The loss extends the JetHawks (27-11, 67-41) losing streak to a season-high five games and closes out the most successful month in club history at 21-8.

On Sunday, a three-run ninth that included a two-run home run by Craig Kuzmic could not stave off a 6-5 loss.

Monday night, Kuzmic laced a one-out, two-run single to draw Lancaster within one in the top of the ninth.

But three batters later, left fielder Juan Silvestre was cut down at the plate on a sacrifice-fly attempt by Bakersfield (22-17, 60-49) right fielder Brett Casper to end the game.

"I could have held Juan there at third," JetHawks manager Mark Parent said, "but anything can happen on this field.

"Juan ran well but (Brett Casper) made a good throw. I sent him and he got thrown out.

"I believe he could have made it."

JetHawks starter Chris Mears (8-6) suffered through one of his shortest outings, lasting 2 2/3 innings and getting shelled for six runs on 10 hits.

Mears walked the first batter he faced Monday, giving center fielder Scoop McDowell a free pass to open the bottom of the first and it was downhill from there.

McDowell would score three batters later on a single to right by Jeremy Luster.

In the second, Mears was touched for five hits that included a two-run blast by McDowell to left-center.

Kevin Tommasini opened up the bottom of the third with a double to right-center field off of Mears, the final hit the Canadian native would give up.

After getting two outs, on a sacrifice bunt and a fly out, Mears walked McDowell for a second time, prompting Parent to relieve him with Cody Morrison.

Morrison looked out of sorts, plunking the first batter he faced, Ryan Luther, to load the bases.

He followed that up with a runscoring walk to Brett Casper, a run-scoring single to Luster and a bases-clearing double by Jake Messner to give the Blaze a 9-4 lead.

"We really needed Cody to come in and get us out of there," Parent said. "It just didn't work out that way."

Neil Longo started the fourth and easily became the most effective hurler for Lancaster on the night.

He went three innings, with a leadoff home run in the sixth by Messner the only damage Longo was struck for.

Longo started the game with the highest ERA - 6.86 - on the team and lowered it to 6.60.

For the bulk of the losing streak, the offense has been the biggest problem, being outscored 24-7 in the previous four losses.

After finding its stroke late in Sunday's loss, the Lancaster offense roared into Monday's contest.

"We got a lot of key two-out hits and quite a few guys had pretty good at-bats," Parent said. "We made them throw strikes late in the game and that helped us get back in it."

Shortstop Antonio Perez got things going in the top of the first with a leadoff double, coming in to score on a dropped ball by catcher Guillermo Rodriguez.

Later in the inning, left fielder Juan Silvestre launched his 24th home run of the year, a two-run shot that gave Lancaster an early 3-0 lead.

For most of the game, the top of the order was where the action was for the JetHawks, as the top four in the batting order scored at least once each in the game.

Right fielder Terrmel Sledge led the way with five runs scored and designated hitter Freddy May scored three times on the strength of three walks.

Silvestre went 4-for-6 with the home run and a run-scoring double in the sixth. He finished July with 40 RBI.

First baseman Peanut Williams had one of his finer days, finishing 4-for-6 as well, with a two-run double in the eighth and three singles.

Uploaded August 1, 2000