Controversial homer sends 'Hawks to win

A controversial home run by catcher Karl Thompson lifted Lancaster past Modesto as the JetHawks moved 13 games over .500

Just ask Lancaster catcher Karl Thompson who used a controversial sixth-inning home run to spur the JetHawks to a 12-3 victory over Modesto before 3,577 fans in attendance at The Hangar.

With the win, the JetHawks (45-32) moved 13 games over .500 for the first time since the franchise moved to Lancaster.

While 13 generally isn't considered a lucky number, the JetHawks might have gotten a little lucky in the sixth inning.

Modesto had just scored in the top half of the frame to trim the Lancaster lead to a precarious one run, 4-3.

Modesto starter Kevin Gregg (5-5) retired the first two JetHawk batters in the bottom half of the frame, before he was lifted in favor of Jose Paulino.

Paulino jumped ahead of Thompson 1-2, but left his fourth pitch where the Lancaster catcher could get his bat on it. Thompson jumped on it and crushed a shot down the left-field line.

The blast was certainly high enough to clear the wall, as it was well above the 30-foot foul pole, but the question was whether or not it would be fair.

"I didn't think it was fair at all," Thompson said. "I almost didn't even run."

But home-plate umpire Ryan Bleiberg ruled that it was fair, even though Modesto manager Juan Navarrete felt it hooked outside the pole at the last minute. Bleiberg ejected Navarrete in the heated argument that ensued.

"I thought it hooked just inside the pole," said JetHawks manager Rick Burleson, who was standing in the third base coach's box at the time.

The JetHawks added to their two-run lead in the seventh with three runs on six hits and an error. Two of the three runs scored after the A's recorded the second out of the frame.

"When you get a hit like that, it can lift your whole team," Burleson said. "It relaxes everybody."

Navarrete wasn't the only coach ejected from Wednesday's game by Bleiberg, who also tossed Lancaster pitching coach Jim Slaton in the top of the first - his second ejection of the season.

Only three batters into the game, Slaton appeared to be going out to settle starter Jason Bond, who allowed a triple, a single and a walk to the first three batters he faced.

As Slaton was walking to the mound, Bleiberg informed him that he was ejected, apparently for arguing balls and strikes from the dugout.

"He made some smart aleck remarks, and I told him to stop being such a smart (aleck)," Slaton said. "He said that was it, and I was out of there."

Much like the last time Slaton was ejected during a May 21 game at Lake Elsinore, Slaton's antics disputing the ejection seemed to give the JetHawks a boost.

Bond (5-1) bounced back to retire the side after allowing only one run, thanks in large part of a strike-'em-out, throw-'em-out double play.

The Lancaster offense also responded with four runs on five hits in the bottom of the second, highlighted by Jayson Bass' two-run triple into right-center field. Luis Tinoco and Adonis Harrison also had RBI singles in the frame.

The JetHawks bashed Modesto pitching for 20 hits in the game, thanks to three-hit nights from Brendan Kingman, Jason Regan, Bass and Tinoco. Regan had three doubles and two RBI, while Bass drove in four runs and Tinco had three RBI.

Cam Smith shutout the A's for the final 3 1/3 inning to pick up his first save this season.