Kata delivers win

It takes four hours, but Lancaster gets fourth win in a row

Matt Kata hit a one-out triple down the right-field in the bottom of the 13th inning, scoring Jason Williams from first base and giving the JetHawks a 7-6 victory over the Modesto A's.

The JetHawks stretched their win streak to four games, the longest since the first week of the season, and won when trailing after the seventh inning for the second time in 49 tries.

The JetHawks couldn't get a sacrifice before the 12th. They stranded seven runners in the ninth, tenth and 11th innings, continuing a trend that bothered them throughout their marathon game.

Javy Lopez (1-3) pitched the final two innings to pick up the win.

Corey Myers opened Lancaster's ninth inning with a single, and Matt Kata followed it with a blooper to shallow center field. An out later, Robbie Hammock singled Myers home, erasing a 6-5 deficit.

Entering the game, the JetHawks were 1-47 when trailing after seven innings.

A's closer Cade Sanchez intentionally walked Billy Martin. The JetHawks needed a sac fly to win the game, but J.D. Closser popped up to the catcher and Jamie Sykes struck out to end the inning.

As in the extra frames, the JetHawks wasted several opportunities to win the game in regulation. They stranded nine runners over the first nine innings. In three separate innings, the JetHawks had a runner on third base with less than two outs and failed to plate him.

In the first five innings, Lancaster batted 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, including four strikeouts. Their two runs during that span came on a groundout and an error.

Martin and Sykes each hit home runs in the sixth inning, chasing Modesto starter Shane Bazzell and pulling the JetHawks within one. The teams exchanged runs in the seventh, setting up Lancaster's ninth-inning rally.

Bazzell pitched effectively until the sixth inning, when he appeared tired and left pitches up to Martin and Sykes. His best pitch is a fastball in the lower 90s with good movement, but he mixed in four other pitches. He struck out nine Lancaster batters, including three in the third inning after the JetHawks put runners on second and third.

Luis Terrero provided the JetHawks with most of their offense in the early innings. He singled, doubled and tripled in his first three at-bats. He had two chances to complete the cycle, both in key situations late in the game, but grounded out both times.

JetHawks starter Doug Slaten was the victim of some poor luck. He allowed 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings, but most of those were soft singles. The A's converted them into six runs, five earned. He walked one and struck out four.

As the game wore into the late innings, JetHawks manager Scott Coolbaugh made numerous moves, pinch-hitting or pinch-running for players, and making defensive switches. Modesto manager Greg Sparks didn't have that luxury.

Injuries depleted the A's roster, leaving the team with just one bench player, Roberto Vaz. And Vaz, coming off surgery, has been cleared to hit but can't play the field, making him useless in any capacity other than designated hitter.

Crowell (1-7) pitched the 11th and 12th and allowed the winning run.

Uploaded July 21, 2001