Terrero can't save JetHawks

Terrero, the JetHawks center fielder, robbed Bakersfield's Chairon Isenia of a game-winning hit in the 11th inning with a spectacular diving catch in the left-field gap. Terrero raced down the ball then laid out, completely horizontal, making the best defensive play for the JetHawks all season.

It didn't matter. Second baseman Matt Kata couldn't handle a ground ball from the Blaze's Nestor Perez with two outs in the 12th, and Chris Schrock drove him home with a single to right field, giving the Blaze the 7-6, 12-inning victory.

Jay Belflower (0-1) suffered the loss for Lancaster, although he still hasn't allowed an earned run this season. Travis Minix (5-1) earned the win for Bakersfield.

JetHawks third baseman Corey Myers started the rally with a single, and was replaced by Montas. Jason Williams sacrificed Montas to second, and Cedrick Harris fouled out to Diaz, bringing up Kata.

Robbie Hammock extended the game with a liner that bounced off Wright's glove and through the right side of the infield, sending Kata to third, but Jamie Sykes struck out to end the inning.

JetHawks starter Ben Norris pitched seven innings, five of them effectively. But the sandwich ends of the start prevented him from earning his second win in Lancaster.

The Diamondbacks sent Norris, who began the season in Class-AA El Paso, down to Lancaster as a wake-up call. They hoped he'd rediscover the talent that got him as high as Class-AAA Tucson in 2000.

That's why JetHawks manager Scott Coolbaugh stayed with Norris when he got into trouble in the seventh inning. With one out and the bases loaded in a one-run game, and Bakersfield's two hottest hitters coming to the plate, Coolbaugh didn't turn to his bullpen.

Norris struck out Chairon Isenia, who already had three hits in the game and 14 hits in 20 at bats against Lancaster in the past week. He jumped ahead of Alberto Castillo, who drove in seven runs in the previous two games, no balls, two strikes.

Then, one pitch from escaping the jam, Castillo hit a soft liner to right field. The drive dropped just in front of Cedrick Harris, scoring two runs and giving Bakersfield a 6-5 lead.

Norris failed his eighth-inning test, allowing three runs. He allowed three in the first inning (two earned), too. In between, he dominated the Blaze. Norris allowed three hits in the middle five frames, and struck out six batters.

He eased through the fourth inning, his trouble spot both in Lancaster and Class-AA El Paso, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts.

In all, Norris pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on 11 hits. He walked one (intentionally) and struck out nine. He allowed four hits in each the first and seventh innings.

The JetHawks scored a run in the first inning before the Blaze knocked Norris around, then came back with two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

Luis Terrero doubled a run home in the first, then scored to tie the game at three with heads-up baserunning on Corey Myers' groundout.

Hammock gave the JetHawks a two-run lead the next inning with a two-run home run.

Uploaded July 25, 2001