Today's update on the JetHawks.
By CHRIS BRANAM
Staff Writer
STOCKTON - Lancaster pitcher Ivan Montane lost a no-hitter in the fifth, then he lost the lead in the sixth.
And despite getting a homer from Dusty Wathan to help send the game into extra innings, the JetHawks' losing streak reached nine in a 3-2 loss to Stockton in the first game of a double-header Thursday night.
The JetHawks then lost their 10th-straight, 2-1, in front of a Billy Hebert Field crowd of 619. The loss landed the JetHawks at the bottom of the California League Southern Division standings.
Lancaster loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth in the second game but Marcus Sturdivant, Jason Cook and Shane Monahan all struck out against reliever Scott Huntsman.
Scott Krause singled in the winning run in the 10th with two out off Lancaster's John Daniels (1-2) to lead the Ports to the first-game win.
Rain was in the forecast again Thursday after the teams' had their Wednesday game postponed.
It rained through the night in Stockton, and neither team took batting practice as the Ports' groundskeepers transformed the soaked infield (there is no infield tarp at Billy Hebert Field) from a mud pit into a playable surface.
But not a drop landed under ominous skies as both Montane and Stockton starter Steve Woodard engaged in a pitchers' duel in the first game.
Montane, who threw a two-hitter in the Northwest League in 1993, set down the first eight Ports before walking Mickey Lopez with two out in the third.
Montane still hadn't allowed a hit when Stockton's Jermaine Swinton ripped a single through the left side to lead off the fifth.
Swinton came around to score on Danny Klassen's triple to the gap in right-center field that tied the game.
Montane was working on a three-hitter in the sixth when Krause hit a solo to center to give the Ports a 2-1 lead in a game that was scheduled for seven innings.
Montane said he tried to power a fastball by Krause, a former standout at the University of New Orleans.
"(Krause) hadn't sniffed a fastball," he said. "He hadn't been close all day. Good pitch, good hitter."
Montane ended up pitching six innings, striking out six and walking just two in his sixth-straight quality start.
He only has one win to show for it, though.
"That's beyond my control," Montane said. "There's peaks and valleys and I have to keep an even keel. I'm starting to get a little more comfortable."
Montane and relievers Tom Szimanski and Daniels combined to strike out nine Ports and held a Lancaster opponent under five runs for the first time in 15 games.
Wathan's fourth homer of the season tied the game in the seventh. He hit a 2-1 pitch from Woodard over the right-field fence.
Both teams threatened to take the lead thereafter, and bad base running and fielding almost cost the JetHawks in the ninth.
Jesus Marquez reached second in the ninth after getting on via an error by Ports third baseman Josh Tyler.
After Cook walked, Marquez was thrown out trying to steal third, ending the half-inning.
The Ports came close to ending the game in the bottom of the ninth after the first two batters struck out against Daniels.
Swinton hit a grounder that was bobbled by Carlos Villalobos at third, and Alex Andreopoulos blooped a single to right, sending Swinton to third.
But Daniels came back to strike out Klassen to end the inning.
Lancaster almost broke through in the10th when Luis Molina walked, moved to second on a single by Monahan and alertly stole third base when Andreopoulos threw behind him.
James Clifford struck out against reliever Brooks Drysdale (3-0) to end the threat.