JetHawks finally gives support

Patrick Dunham earned his first pro victory as Lancaster beat Visalia, ending it's two-game losing streak.

The only problem through his first three starts of the season was he didn't get very much help. The JetHawks produced only five total runs in the three games Dunham started, as the 22-year-old right-hander received three losses despite a 2.87 ERA.

But that all changed Wednesday at Visalia. The JetHawks produced six runs in the first six innings and Dunham took care of the rest in a 6-2 victory before 419 at Recreation Park.

The win was Dunham's first professional victory and ended the JetHawks' two-game losing streak. Dunham (1-3) went 0-3 with a 4.13 ERA last season as a closer in rookie level Everett before moving into Lancaster's starting rotation this year.

"It was great to get that first professional victory," Dunham said. "Now I can say I had at least one win as a professional baseball player. That's the first step."

Dunham said the next step is becoming consistent. If he continues to get run support like he did Wednesday, that goal should be a lot easier.

Ramon Vazquez got things going offensively for the JetHawks in the top of first inning when he turned a bloop single down the left-field line into the first run of the game. He advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on Luis Tinoco's single.

The Oaks got to Dunham in the bottom half of the inning when Eddie Lara sent a 2-1 pitch over the left-center field wall to tie the game 1-1.

But unlike it did in his first three outings, Lancaster immediately gave Dunham the lead back with two runs in the top of the second.

Jason Regan and Anton French drew walks from Visalia starter Jake O'Dell to open the frame. Both moved up a base on Karl Thompson's single and scored when Matt Sachse sent a grounder toward short. The Oaks attempted to turn a double play, but the relay throw was wide of first, allowing the speedy French to round third and score.

"That was a big boost for me," Dunham said. "I wanted to go back in the dugout and keep encouraging them. . . I give all the credit to my teammates. They went out there and worked their tails off for me."

Lancaster added to the lead in the fourth when Adonis Harrison drove in Thompson with a ground ball and Tinoco crushed a 3-1 fastball for a two-run home run. The blast, Tinoco's second of the season, never got very high off the ground but was hit hard enough to leave very little doubt it would clear the left-field wall and give the JetHawks a 6-1 lead.

"I was waiting for the fastball," Tinoco said. "I hit it hard, and it was a line drive."

That was all Dunham would need in his six-plus innings of work. He allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four.

The Oaks finally chased him with back-to-back singles to open the bottom of the seventh.

Brian Sweeney came in and allowed a single to Juan Camilo to load the bases. Adam Robinson then flied out to left field for the second out of the inning. Visalia decided not to test Tinoco's arm on the play.

Jose Soriano followed and singled back up the middle to score Duane Filchner from third. Lancaster's Mike Burrows came up with the ball in center and fired to third ahead of Camilo. Home plate umpire Mike Jost ruled Camilo was tagged out by Regan before Tom Russin crossed home plate, allowing only one run to score on the play and making the score 6-2.

Visalia actually outhit Lancaster 7-6.

"(We) did everything it took to win tonight," JetHawks manager Rick Burleson said. "I'd still like to see us swing the bats a little better, but we produced enough runs to win the game."