JetHawks get 22nd consecutive home victory

Terrmel Sledge hit a solo homer in the 10th inning to break a 3-3 tie and give Lancaster its 22nd consecutive home victory.

By JON MICHAELS
Valley Press Staff Writer

Sledge capped an improbable comeback with a walkoff, solo home run in the 10th inning, propelling Lancaster to its 22nd consecutive home win with a 4-3 extra-inning victory.

"(Sledge) sized him up a little bit and took a good swing," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "That's what you want to do in that situation. Up until two strikes, you're looking to end the game if you have the ability to. Terrmel is a pretty savvy hitter and he did what he wanted to do."

Sledge said he sized up closer Jason Bullard in the previous inning and knew what he wanted to do at the plate.

"I got a chance to watch (Bullard) the inning before and he was throwing a lot of off-speed pitches," said Sledge, who was the Cal League's batter of the week last week after hitting .500 with seven extra-base hits, including four home runs.

"I looked off-speed and he left a change-up a little in and I took a good swing and I had enough to get it out of here."

With their backs against the wall 3-1 in the ninth inning and facing Bullard, the Cal League's save leader, the JetHawks rallied for two runs to send the game into extra innings.

Bakersfield shortstop Carlos Campusano gave Lancaster hope, booting a routine grounder from Juan Silvestre for an error to begin the inning.

Shaken, Bullard walked Craig Kuzmic before his problems deepened. Bo Robinson followed by lashing a hard drive off Bullard's knee that Bullard picked up and fired high to third base.

The throw eluded Julio Cordido, allowing Silvestre to jog home and Kuzmic to take third.

One out later, Harvey Hargrove sent a fly ball to right field, deep enough to score Kuzmic and knot the game at 3-3.

It wasn't the first time Lancaster pounded Bullard. In his first three outings against the 'Hawks, Bullard was 0-1 with a 27.00 ERA in 3 1/3 innings. He had given up 11 runs on 10 hits in that span.

"Right now, we feel like we're the best team out here," Sledge said. "We know if we're down, the lineup one through nine can get the job done. I don't think any of us had any doubts. We play tough."

Brandon Parker pitched two scoreless innings, striking out two batters to record his third win of the season.

Until that point, Bakersfield starter Jim Lynch controlled the potent Lancaster offense. Even the JetHawks' hits against Lynch were nearly outs. Sledge, Lancaster's hottest hitter, touched Lynch for a triple that came inches from being a spectacular catch by left fielder Carlos Valerrama.

The JetHawks, who had been averaging eight runs per home contest since the all-star break, didn't get another hit until a perfectly executed bunt by leadoff hittter Antonio Perez in the sixth inning.

Lynch promptly erased Perez afer the speedy shortstop took too big a lead off first base. The pickoff prompted Parent to cross the field and argue the play.

Lancaster finally solved Lynch in the seventh, capitalizing on Kuzmic's leadoff double into the gap in right-center field.

After a passed ball advanced Kuzmic to third, Robinson delivered Kuzmic with a sacrifice fly to left field.

While Lynch was busy putting zeroes on the scoreboard, Lancaster starter Enmanual Ulloa was effective, but had little support.

The Blaze jumped on Ulloa for two unearned runs in the first inning, as Silvestre's misplayed flyball set the tone for a long evening.

The second batter of the game, Cordido, sent a routine fly to Silvestre in left-center. But Silvestre dropped the ball, allowing Cordido to get to second base.

Ryan Luther cashed in Cordido with a double to left field. Jeremy Luster then upped the lead to 2-0 with a single to center field.

The Blaze added a third run in the fifth, cashing in a walk, a passed ball and an RBI double by Luther.

Uploaded August 9, 2000