By CHRIS BRANAM
Staff Writer
MODESTO - Ken Cloude is back in the win column, and so are the Lancaster JetHawks.
Lancaster got a two-run home run from Jesus Marquez, while Cloude and reliever John Thompson combined on a three-hitter as the JetHawks beat Modesto 2-1 Friday night at John Thurman Field.
Lancaster (20-23) ended a 10-game losing streak in their win over the A's (25-16) in front of 1,675 fans.
"There's a whole different attitude in this locker room right now," said Cloude, who won for the first time since April 27. "Hopefully, it will carry over for the next 15 games."
Throwing almost exclusively fastballs, Cloude retired the last 16 batters to face him.
After giving up a run-scoring double to D.T. Cromer in the second, the only runner to reach base thereafter was Miguel Tejada, who singled and went to second on an error by center fielder Marcus Sturdivant.
Cloude struck out eight, including leadoff hitter Juan Dilone twice, and walked one to improve to 3-2.
"I was a little intimidated by the heart of their lineup," Cloude said, "and after the third, I said the hell with it and went right after them."
The only runs Cloude needed were provided by Marquez, whose drive over the right-field fence with two out in the fourth provided the winning margin.
Marquez' third homer of the season came off losing pitcher Chris Cochrane (3-3).
"I was hoping for a fastball from the middle of the plate in and I got it and drove it," Marquez said.
Marquez's hit was only one of five the JetHawks got off four Modesto pitchers on the night. Jim Corsi, on a rehabilitation assignment from Oakland, retired the side in the first and Cochrane pitched the next five innings.
So it wasn't exactly an offensive explosion by the JetHawks, who also were treated with the remaining fans to a post-game fireworks display.
But they were able to preserve the one-run lead with their gloves.
Sturdivant made a running catch on the warning track in the seventh on a drive by Cromer that looked like it would go for extra bases.
In the eighth, second baseman Jason Cook leaped high to grab Jeff D'Amico's one-out liner.
Those plays typified a game in which the JetHawks didn't beat themselves, like they had done often over the past few weeks.
Thompson summed it up as "good, sound fundamental baseball."
"It's nice to get the monkey off our backs," said Thompson, who recorded his fourth save of the season. "Kenny Cloude pitched a great game and I didn't want it to go to shame. He deserved the win."
Thompson wasted little time in retiring the A's in the ninth. He struck out Dilone, retired Tejada himself on a lineout and induced Ben Grieve into a ground out to second.
He threw six fastballs above 90 miles per hour.
The JetHawks weren't exactly beating a patsy. Modesto was leading the Cal League's Northern Division entering the game and had hit 40 homers in 40 games.
"We got some outstanding pitching (Thursday) and got nothing to show for it," he said. "That (win) was huge."