Dominant division

Dilone's Giant day lifts Valley

That all changed in the first half of this season, when he hit .338 with 13 home runs.

The San Jose outfielder put an exclamation point on his success in the first half by leading the Valley Division to a 9-4 victory in the Cal League All-Star game Tuesday before 4,714 fans at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

"I was just trying to go out and have some fun," Dilone said. "Things just worked out right for me tonight."

Dilone was named the Howe SportsData Star of Stars after going 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs scored and a home run.

Dilone originally signed with the Oakland A's as a non-drafted free agent out of Santos Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 1995 and worked his way up through the A's system.

His career was put on hold in 1995, when he spent the entire season on the Modesto disabled list.

He returned in 1996, and hit .265 with 14 home runs, 78 runs scored and 66 RBI with the A's. He spent a second season with Modesto in 1997, hitting .225 with 19 homers, 54 runs scored and 51 RBI.

Two days after Christmas, Dilone signed a minor-league free agent contract with the San Francisco Giants, and has found the new surrounding in San Jose to his liking.

"I've been here for two years now," Dilone said. "I know what to expect more. I should be having a better season."

On top of his league-leading 13 home runs, the Valley Division's starter in right field has scored 45 runs and picked up 36 RBI.

"I've been a little more mature in the way I approach the game this season," Dilone said. "I think that's really helped me get some big hits to help the team."

He lived up to his reputation for coming up with the big play in the bottom of the second inning, when he crushed a 2-0 changeup over the left-field fence to tie the game, 1-1.

"I knew he had to throw me a strike," Dilone said.

He also drove in the Valley Division's second run of the night with a single back up the middle in the fourth inning, once again tying the game, 2-2.

But Dilone did not play a part in the Valley Division's biggest rally of the night.

The Valley Division scored five runs on four hits and three Freeway Division errors in the bottom of the fifth to take control of the game.

The big fifth inning was started by San Jose's Michael Byas, who laced a single into right-center field. Modesto's Jeff DaVanon followed with a similar shot two pitches later.

Stockton's Josh Klimek came to the plate looking for a sacrifice fly to score Byas from third. He got the fly ball he was hoping for, but Luke Allen got a bad read on the ball, and had it sail over his head and bound to the right-field wall.

Both Byas and DaVanon scored on the play, and Klimek took third base. He scored two batters later, when Modesto's Cody McKay crushed a triple off the right-center field wall. That ball was also misplayed by the Freeway Division outfield.

High Desert's Rod Barajas gave the Valley Division a 7-3 lead, when he doubled and scored on the third Freeway Division error of the frame.

The Freeway Division actually never trailed before the fifth, as San Bernardino's Rick Saitta sent the fourth pitch of the ballgame over the right-center wall to stake the Freeway Division to a quick 1-0 lead.

Saitta finished the game 2-for-3 with one run scored, two RBI and a home run.

Lancaster's Brian Sweeney took the win after pitching a scoreless seventh inning. He walked the first batter he faced, and then proceeded to strike out the final three batters.

"I can't believe I'm the winning pitcher," a jubilant Sweeney said. "I just tried to have a good game. . . I was a little wild at first because I was so excited. I guess you could call it wild excitement."

Rancho Cucamonga's Brent Iddon, who was charged with all five runs in the decisive fifth took the loss.