Lancaster can't break through .500 barrier

Once again, Lake Elsinore kept the JetHawks from moving over the .500 mark.

DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer

LAKE ELSINORE - The Lancaster JetHawks must feel like they keep running into a brick wall.

Every time they get close to breaking .500 and establish a winning record, those hopes come crashing down around them.

Lake Elsinore did the honors of keeping the JetHawks (22-23) south of the break-even point Monday with a 7-4 victory before an announced crowd of 2,113 people at The Diamond.

"We just haven't been able to get over the hump yet," JetHawks manager Rick Burleson said. "I really don't know the reason why. If we did, I'm sure we would have done it by now."

Lake Elsinore, which left Lancaster last week as the hottest team in the Cal League but lost three straight to Modesto over the weekend, ended the JetHawks' two-game winning streak.

It wasn't the first time the Storm has kept Lancaster from joining the ranks of the winning. On May 1, the JetHawks had a chance to move to 15-14, but Lake Elsinore won 12-4. Then on Thursday the Storm came back for a 12-9 victory to send Lancaster to a 20-21 record.

"I think it's important to (get above .500) and then get on a five- or six-game roll," Burleson said. "Once you do that, you start thinking, why not 10?"

On Monday, it once again appeared the JetHawks were on their way to their first winning record since they were 3-2 on April 6. But a furious Storm comeback in the fifth and sixth innings ended those hopes.

Rafael Carmona, who made his fourth start on a major league rehabilitation assignment for a wrist injury he suffered in a car accident in late November, was perfect through the first three innings of the game.

Lancaster spotted him a 1-0 lead in the second inning, when Luis Tinoco led off the top half of the frame with a single. He moved to second when Lake Elsinore first baseman Larry Barnes doubleclutched and decided not to go for the double play on Jayson Bass' ground ball. Tinoco took third on a balk and scored on Joel Ramirez's bloop single.

The Storm finally got to Carmona in the fourth, when a single by Jeff Guiel and a double by Freddy Diaz put two runners in scoring position. Carmona only surrendered one run, though.

Lancaster immediately got that run back in the top of the fifth, when Adonis Harrison picked up a two-out single, stole second base and scored on Ramon Vazquez's single.

Unfortunately, that was as close to .500 as the JetHawks would get Monday.

Carmona (0-1), who got his first decision with Lancaster, loaded the bases with an infield single and two walks before giving way to Brian Sweeney, who made his first relief appearance since April 25.

Sweeney allowed a run-scoring single to Nelson Castro to tie the game, before Diaz gave the Storm their first lead of the game with a two-run single. Sweeney loaded the bases again and walked in a run, giving the Storm a 5-2 lead after five.

Guiel's sixth-inning two-run homer to right-center field off Albert Derenches ended the JetHawks' hopes of a comeback.

Starter Brian Tokarse (5-3) was outstanding for the Storm once again, just like he in his two previous victories over the JetHawks, both of which came at The Hangar. He scattered 11 hits and two walks while striking out seven over 8 1/3 innings.

"That guy's got our number," Burleson said. "He's pitched three great games against us."