'Hawks can't get it going

Lancaster lost to Rancho Cucamonga for the first time in five games and only the third time in their last 13 meetings.

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

The JetHawks have already clinched the league's best record, a playoff berth and both half titles and they played like a team with little left to accomplish as they fell 9-7 to the Quakes in front of a crowd of 3,071 at the Epicenter.

The JetHawks had an opportunity to at least tie the game in the ninth after Quakes reliever Jeremy Fikac loaded the bases with two outs. But leadoff man Antonio Perez lined the third out into the glove of Rancho Cucamonga first baseman Graham Koonce to end the game.

Lancaster took a four-game wining streak against the Quakes into the contest and had won 10 of the last 12 contests against Rancho Cucamonga.

Perez led off the game with a single off Rancho Cucamonga starter Blair DeHart. Perez would score two batters later as Craig Kuzmic singled to right.

For the next four innings, though, the JetHawksoffense went into hibernation, collecting one hit in that span off DeHart.

In the sixth, the JetHawks scored six runs, mostly with the help of five walks, batting around for the 33rd time this season. In the inning, Wifredo Quintana picked up a two-run double and Travis McClendon and Juan Silvestre both had sacrifice flies.

Also in the inning, Jamie Bubela had his first extra-base hit as a JetHawk, a double.

The Quakes walked three batters in a row following Bubela's double to extend the inning.

In all, Rancho Cucamonga walked 12 batters on the night, a season high.

Enmanuel Ulloa got the start for Lancaster in search of his 10th win.

Ulloa had faced the Quakes three other times this year but had not seen them since April 27.

The Quakes scored runs off Ulloa in each of the first four innings and chased him from the game after 3 1/3 innings.

Ulloa looked to be the loser leaving the game down 7-1. but after the six-run sixth for Lancaster, he was kept out of the decision. That inning also kept DeHart (0-7) from picking up his first win of the season.

Neil Longo relieved Ulloa and retired the first six batters he faced, including setting the side down in order in the fifth.

In the bottom of the sixth, after getting leadoff man Jeremy Owens to ground out, Longo surrendered two runs on three consecutive doubles as the Quakes took the lead 9-7.

Uploaded August 30, 2000