Connor's personal Storm lifts JetHawks

Greg Connors hit a pair of two-run homers, lifting Lancaster to an easy win over Lake Elsinore

All it took for the Lancaster JetHawks was the turn of a double play in Saturday's 15-4 victory over Lake Elsinore in front of 5,344 fans at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

Lake Elsinore, which was fresh from a come-from-behind victory Friday courtesy of four consecutive ninth-inning doubles, appeared ready to continue its offensive tear early Saturday as the first three Storm batters singled off Lancaster starter Julio Ayala (9-4).

Leadoff batter Nelson Castro was caught trying to advance to second base, but Shawn Wooten loaded the bases with only one out when Giomar Guevara bobbled a ground ball.

``We had to turn a double play and keep them from scoring,'' shortstop Ramon Vazquez said.

Vazquez got exactly what he was looking for as Steve Hagins bounced a tailor-made 6-4-3 double play ball his way, which the JetHawks turned to end the threat.

While that play was exactly what the JetHawks needed defensively, it also seemed to give them the momentum they needed offensively.

``That was a big double-play ball,'' first baseman Greg Connors said. ``Especially after the tough night we had (Friday) night.''

Lancaster went on to score 11 runs in the first two innings to take control and end a brief twogame losing streak.

``Like I said (Friday) night, we haven't consistently been putting all three areas together recently,'' JetHawks manager Rick Burleson said. ``We've been winning 13-1 and 9-0 and then having a couple of off days. The big thing for us is to come out and have a solid day in terms of pitching, defense and offense (today).''

The JetHawks certainly hope to continue getting the offensive production they witnessed Saturday.

After holding the Storm scoreless in the top of the first, the JetHawks came back to take a 3-0 lead, thanks to doubles by Giomar Guevara and Cirilo Cruz Jr. and singles by Vazquez and Jayson Bass.

``After you jump out to that three-run lead, you can relax a little and start playing your game,'' Connors said. ``You don't have to press as much.''

If a three-run lead can do that, imagine what an 11-run lead does. The JetHawks pounded Lake Elsinore for eight runs on six hits in the second to take command of the game. Connors started the frame with a bloop single and finished off the scoring with a two-run home run.

Connors, who joined the JetHawks on a temporary assignment from Class A Wisconsin on Friday, added a second two-run homer in the fourth and finished 4for-5 with three runs scored and five RBI.

``He was a nice added bat to our lineup,'' Burleson said. ``He's an aggressive-type player that you have to like because of the way he approaches the game.''

Vazquez also had a big night at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Seven JetHawks had multi-hit games, as every starter had at least one hit and one run scored by the end of the fourth inning.

Making the offensive outpouring that much more special for Lancaster was the fact that it started against nemesis Brian Tokarse. Tokarse had won four of his previous five starts against Lancaster, but lasted only 1 2/3 innings Saturday after allowing six earned runs on six hits and a walk.

Tokarse now has a 25.20 ERA in five innings of work during his two losses to the JetHawks, compared to his 1.84 ERA in 29 1/3 innings of work in his four wins over Lancaster.

``This is a guy that's fared pretty good against us (four) times, and we only got to him once,'' Burleson said. ``We had a lot of guys come through for us offensively, but we have to keep it going now.''