Fuentes bags a dozen in return to the rotation

Brian Fuentes struck out 12 High Desert batters in seven innings to pace Lancaster to the win.

By BRIAN GOLDEN
Valley Press Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Brian Fuentes went to the bullpen searching for some answers.

What he found was a 12K gem.

The Lancaster JetHawks' lefthander held the High Desert Mavericks to three hits over seven innings and struck out 12 Saturday night in a 3-1 victory enjoyed by 3,945 fans at The Hangar.

`After two tough losses the last two nights, that was a nice win," Lancaster manager Rick Burleson said. "First we strike the guy out to end the game and they won't call it, then we can't execute with runners in scoring position (Friday)."

Cirilo Cruz cured that problem, extending his hitting streak to 10 games with a two-run double in the sixth inning, scoring Anton French and Ramon Vasquez.

Cruz sealed the fate of Maverick right-hander Brad Penny (3-3) with an RBI single to right, scoring Adonis Harrison in the eighth to tie San Jose's Guiseppe Chiaramonte for the California League lead with 30.

In addition to his offense, Cruz made three sparkling scoop plays at first on throws from the infield.

Talk about Launch-a-Ball night. Fuentes (1-1) had to retreat to the bullpen after unwittingly staging his own promotion April 29 in Stockton. That night, he gave up six earned runs and walked four in just two-thirds of an inning. A four-inning relief stint at Adelanto on May 6, in which he allowed two runs, five hits and struck out four, apparently straightened things out.

Fuentes, 22, listed among the Seattle Mariners' Top 10 prospects by Baseball America, relied on a fastball that reached 91 mph. He also relocated his changeup while recording his first eight outs of the game via strikeout.

No stranger to strikeouts - he fanned 153 in 118 innings at Class A Wisconsin in 1997 - Fuentes stayed out of trouble and avoided aiming the ball.

"He got his curveball over for strikes, and he used that changeup they told us was one of his better pitches last year," JetHawks pitching coach Jim Slaton said. "He was consistent 88 (mph) tonight, and got up to 91 a few times. He surprises hitters with that velocity."

Old JetHawk friend Rod Barajas doubled and took third on a wayward pickoff throw in the second inning, before Fuentes struck out the side.

The Mavericks scored a run on walks to Casey Cuntz and Kevin Clark and a single by Jarrod Patterson in the fourth inning. Fuentes regrouped to strand Patterson at second by striking out Jamie Gann.

Kyle Kennison took over in the eighth and earned his second save.

Penny was only threatened once in the first five innings - when Jason Regan's wind-blown fly ball dropped for a double in shallow center field in the fifth.

Before anyone had flashbacks of Friday's frustrating failure to deliver with runners in scoring position, French opened the sixth with a bunt base hit. He stole second and took third on a throw into center field. After a walk to Vazquez, Cruz sliced a double beyond the reach of right fielder Jhensy Sandoval.

"Cruz gets so many big hits for us with two outs," Burleson said. "I wish more guys would see how he hits the ball to right field. He doesn't try to do too much with a pitch. He gets the barrel of the bat on the ball, and he hits rockets."