Dunham's good luck changes against A's

Lancaster starter Patrick Dunham lost for the first time in nine decisions as Modesto defeated the JetHawks

LANCASTER - Lancaster starter Patrick Dunham did something he hadn't done in two months and 10 days - lose.

After starting the season 0-3, Dunham won nine consecutive decisions. In fact, the JetHawks had lost only one game when the right-hander took the mound since April 15.

But all that changed Thursday.

Modesto's Jeff DaVannon hit for the cycle in his first four trips to the plate to lead the A's to a 12-9 victory over Lancaster before a crowd of 2,790 at The Hangar.

"You had to figure something like this was going to happen some time," Dunham said. "Baseball is a crazy game. . . I tried my hardest, and my teammates tried their hardest. But sometimes, things like this happen."

The A's moved into a second-place tie with Lancaster (5-3) in the second-half Valley Division standings and ended the JetHawks' three-game winning streak.

Dunham had his weakest outing of the season, allowing 10 runs on seven hits and four walks. His previous highest runs-allowed total was the five earned runs he allowed in his last start, which he ended up winning 16-11 over Rancho Cucamonga.

"Like I've said all season, you learn something new in this game every time out," Dunham said. "I definitely hope to learn something from tonight."

But he wasn't alone in his struggles. The JetHawks set a new season-high with seven errors, including four in the A's five-run fifth inning, and had trouble getting to Modesto starter Jason Anderson until the game was out of hand.

"We made some mistakes as a team and we lost this game as a team," Dunham said. "Individually, I made some mistakes, and I feel I definitely lost this game. . . Modesto did a good job of taking advantage of all our mistakes."

DaVannon got things started for the A's with his first-inning infield single. Adam Piatt's double and a walk by Todd Mensik loaded the bases for Hipolito Martinez with two out.

Martinez crushed Dunham's 1-0 offering onto Avenue I to give Modesto a quick 4-0 lead. The A's added a run, as they sent nine batters to the plate in the inning.

DaVannon scored again in the second inning after he picked up a one-out triple off the wall in right-center field.

DaVannon's double came off Dunham in the fourth inning, but netted the A's no runs.

His home run, which came on the third pitch from reliever Lindsay Gulin, did it's share of damage, though. The two-run blast not only completed his first cycle on any level, but completed the scoring in a rough inning for the JetHawks.

"Hitting for the cycle was great," DaVannon said. "I never thought I would be one to do it."

Todd Mensik led off the frame with a home run, and Martinez drew a walk. Dunham then retired Jose Castro and Brian Lurderer, but Caonabo Cosme started what was most likely the ugliest play by the JetHawks this season.

Shortstop Ramon Vazquez had the ball get past him into left field for an error. Luis Tinoco then misplayed the ball in the outfield, allowing the two runners to move up a base. As if that weren't enough, Tinoco's throw to second base was off line for the third error of the play, allowing Martinez to score a run.

Cosme also scored on an error charged to Adonis Harrison, setting up DaVannon to complete the cycle in the fifth.

Anderson shut down the Lancaster offense, which had scored 31 runs in its last three games, until Jason Regan plated Cirilo Cruz Jr. with a sacrifice fly.

Lancaster attempted a rally in the ninth, by scoring five runs on three hits, two walks and an error, but fell three runs short.