JetHawks suddenly find a way to win in San Bernardino

After they went winless in their first six games in San Bernardino, the JetHawks swept a three-game series from the Stampede.

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

JetHawks fans rest easy.

Wednesday night Lancaster completed a three-game sweep of the Stampede at San Bernardino Municipal Stadium with a 4-2 win before a crowd of 1,364.

The win guarantees Lancaster (43-17, 83-47) home-field advantage in the Cal League South Division playoffs and gives them a 10 1/2-game lead in the second half. The win also cut the JetHawks' magic number to clinch the second-half title to one.

Melqui Torres (7-4) stymied the San Bernardino (32-27, 71-58) offense for 6 2/3 innings, giving up one run on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

"The last three times out, he's been so aggressive on the mound," pitching coach Scott Budner said. "It's never been a matter of his stuff, but in the last few times out he's got it all together and been solid."

Torres got plenty of help from his defense as the infield turned three double plays in the second, third and fourth innings. The defense also turned a fourth double play to end the game for reliever Allan Simpson.

"We're playing good defense," Parent said. "When you play good defense it helps in other areas of the game as well."

The JetHawks have won 12 of the 16 games Torres has started, dating back to the beginning of the season.

In the seventh, Torres finally ran into trouble, giving up a run on two outs in the bottom half of the inning.

"He's been outstanding and I couldn't wait to tell him," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "He probably could have finished the game off, but we have so many pitchers we have to get work. It's a good problem to have."

San Bernardino drew within two runs at 4-2 after reliever Neil Longo gave up two hits in the eighth inning.

Longo was relieved by Simpson who got the final five outs to notch his sixth save of the season.

"We didn't come in here to win one, to just say we won here," Simpson said. "We came in to win. We really stepped it up here. It's good that we know we can win on the road.

"Except for a couple of games,we finish out on the road. So this was big."

Lancaster got an offensive lift from the bottom of the batting order for the second night in a row.

Wilfredo Quintana, Travis McClendon and Harvey Hargrove, batters seven through nine, each had a two-out hit and scored a run as part of a four-run second inning.

In the second, Quintana laced a two-out triple to left-center field to start the rally. McClendon and Hargrove both had run-scoring singles and stole a base.

"When the top of the order isn't getting it done," Parent said, "we've been fortunate that the bottom of the order is getting it done."

For Lancaster that was the extent of its production at the plate.

Stampede starter Phil Deavey (5-11), and relievers Elvis Correa and Dwayne Jacobs combined to keep Lancaster scoreless for the other eight innings.

The JetHawks had eight hits on the night. Five came in the second inning, all with two outs.

Quintana (2-for-4) had the lone multi-hit game for Lancaster.

Uploaded August 24, 2000