Ten-run second inning lifts Lancaster

Lancaster scored 10 runs in the second inning against San Bernardino and appears to have broken out from the recent woes in which it dropped six straight.

In a commanding fashion, the JetHawks won their third consecutive game at home and their 19th in the last 20 at The Hangar in beating the San Bernardino Stampede 13-8 Friday night in front of 3,158 fans.

The win increases Lancaster's lead in the California League's South Division to 7 1/2 games over San Bernardino. Before being swept, the Stampede was within 4 1/2 games of the JetHawks with the hopes of pulling within a 1 1/2 games with a sweep of their own.

However, the JetHawks thoroughly dominated the Stampede like they have all season at The Hangar. Lancaster has won eight of nine games at home against the Stampede in 2000.

"It's nice to be playing on this field," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "The guys really enjoying playing here.

"(The losing streak) was the first real lull we have had. I hate to say it was a good thing, but it was for the team. You have to learn how to handle a losing streak."

Friday's game didn't start all that well for the JetHawks.

San Bernardino's Joe Thurston's sent the third pitch by Lancaster starter Jeff Heaverlo over the right-field fence for his second home run of the season.

However, the one run given up by Heaverlo in the first proved to be nothing more than a tease to the San Bernardino coaching staff as the Lancaster leader in wins upped his record to 12-5 with a seven strong innings. Heaverlo allowed two runs.

Heaverlo was helped by an offense that scored 10 runs in the second inning. The 10 runs were the most scored by the JetHawks in an inning this season.

Lancaster sent 16 batters to the plate in the inning, with the first eight reaching base safely. Antonio Perez, Craig Kuzmic and Bo Robinson each had two hits in the second.

Through two innings, eight of the nine JetHawks' hitters had at least one hit. The only JetHawk to fail to record hit in the first two innings was Lancaster slugger Juan Silvestre.

Silvestre wasn't silent for long, however, connecting for his 25th home run of the season with Terrmel Sledge on first to give the JetHawks a 12-1 lead.

Frustrated by giving up the homer and watching his team fall far behind early in the game, San Bernardino pitcher Christian Bridenbaugh hit Kuzmic with the next pitch in the back. Kuzmic stared down at Bridenbaugh while walking first. However, there was no further action.

Bridenbaugh was ejected by plate umpire Ben Clanton for intentionally hitting Kuzmic.

"I knew and everyone in the stands knew that it was intentional," said Kuzmic. "I wasn't going to go out there an meet up with them. I said a few words to him . . . but I am swinging well right now and we were winning 13-2."

Wilfredo Quintana scored the last run for the JetHawks when he hit his first home run for Lancaster, a solo shot in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 13-1.

With the offensive explosion, Heaverlo was able to throw strikes without the worry of getting himself in trouble. He did allow a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to Darron Ingram.

He left after the inning, having given up five hits while striking out four and walking two.

"The lead allow me to throw a lot more fastballs than I usually do," Heaverlo said. "I just went out there and did what Mark (Parent) wanted me to do and got the win."

Heaverlo was replaced by the struggling Aaron Looper. In one inning, Looper gave up six runs on six hits as the Stampede made the game interesting by pulling within 13-8.

Ingram hit his second home run of the game, a grand slam with no outs against Looper.

The Stampede loaded the bases again in the top of the ninth, Omar Obanda retired the only batter he faced to pick up his third save.

Uploaded August 5, 2000