It's not O-K for JetHawks

Carlos Garcia struck out 13 JetHawks to keep San Bernardino alive in the series.

by ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

With his team in danger of being swept, Garcia responded with a two-run, 13 strikeout performance, as the Stampede squeaked out a 3-2 win before a crowd of 989 at San Bernardino Municipal Stadium.

Lancaster now leads the Cal League South Division Championship series 2-1 with game four to be played tonight in San Bernardino.

Chris Mears (11-8) will take to the mound for Lancaster and faces San Bernardino's Lance Caraccioli (10-3) at 7:05 p.m. at the Ranch.

"Garcia was everything today that he's billed to be," Lancaster manager Mark Parent said. "He spotted his fastball very well and didn't tip off any of his pitches.

"I think we realized today that they're not going to roll over for us. We may have them by the (neck), but we still have to go out and play."

Garcia made sure the Stampede would not exit the playoffs on his watch with a dominating outing that saw him end five innings with strikeouts.

The JetHawks were able to muster two runs off of eight hits against Garcia, leaving eight men on base.

"What (Garcia) does, is he knows how to . . . pitch," Lancaster pitching coach Scott Budner said. "He pitches like an experienced 40year old; keeps everything around the plate and works the corners."

Outfielders Harvey Hargrove and Juan Silvestre received an upclose view of Garcia's wizardry. Hargrove struck out four times and the league's MVP three times.

Freddie May, Antonio Perez and Peanut Williams were each called out on strikes two times each.

For his part, Lancaster starter Scott Atchison nearly matched Garcia pitch for pitch, allowing three runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts of his own in seven innings.

"I've had eight, nine days off so my arm was live and that helped," Atchison said. "That can go a long ways when you're fresh like that.

"I threw the ball well and their guy threw just a little bit better, and sometimes it's going to happen. We're still up 2-1 so it's not a big concern, we just faced their best pitcher . . . and are still in control."

Atchison ran into trouble to start the eighth and was pulled for reliever Cody Morrison. Morrison faced three batters, striking out two and intentionally walking another before giving way to lefthander Denny McDaniel. McDaniel got the left-handed hitting Lamont Matthews to ground into a forceout to end the inning.

"Atch did a great job out there for us. He made the adjustments he needed to." Parent said, "After him, Cody was solid, and McDaniel came in and did his job. I couldn't ask for more from our staff.

"We're up 2-1 and we'll just have to come back and get them (tonight)."

After being blanked by Garcia for five innings, Lancaster finally broke onto the scoreboard in the sixth when Craig Kuzmic laced a one-out single to left and Silvestre followed with a double to left center to bring him in.

In the eighth, Bo Robinson knocked a single to center that Jesus Feliciano misplayed, allowing Robinson to cruise into second base. It was Feliciano's second error in 120 games.

Three batters later, May roped a 2-0 fastball from Garcia to center that scored Robinson and chased Garcia.

"If we are down one or two runs," Atchison said, "we still have a shot at (winning) it with our bats."

"We swung the bats well and hopefully we can take that into (tonight's) game, come out early and score some runs. Mears has been throwing well and keeping it down, we should be able to win this one (tonight)."

Catcher Scott Maynard was the only player on either side to have a multi-hit game, finishing 3-for-4 with three singles.

Uploaded September 11, 2000