Eight is enough for JetHawks

Modesto scored eight runs in the fourth to complete a three-game sweep of Lancaster

He's tried workouts before the game. He's tried closed-door meetings. He's tried almost every method he can think of to light a fire under his team in the second half, but so far to little avail.

It might get even tougher after the Modesto A's completed a threegame series sweep at Lancaster Municipal Stadium with an 11-5 victory Wednesday before 3,332 Lancaster faithful. The A's rocked Lancaster for 17 hits, including eight for extra bases, and scored eight runs in the fourth inning to take the win.

Although the JetHawks' mathematical hopes of qualifying for the playoffs are far from over, Lancaster could find it difficult to come back after being outplayed by Modesto the last three nights and outscored 31-15.

The JetHawks, who entered the series with a one-game lead over the A's in the race for the Valley Division's final playoff spot, end the three-game homestand trailing Modesto (63-54) by two games in the wild card race. Lancaster (61-56) also saw its lead over thirdplace Stockton (60-57) dwindle to only one game.

Things aren't likely to get any easier for the JetHawks this weekend, as they start a four-game series at The Epicenter against redhot Rancho Cucamonga, which has won eight of its last 11 games.

Lancaster can't afford another ugly inning like it had in the fourth Wednesday.

Spurred by four defensive miscues in the Lancaster outfield, the A's scored eight runs on eight hits and an error to take command of the game, allowing them to cruise to their sixth consecutive victory over the JetHawks.

Trailing 2-1, Adam Piatt started the inning with one out, when he sent a fly ball deep into leftcenter field. Lancaster outfielder Fernando Espino and Anton French converged on the ball, and Espino appeared to have a play on it. But it fell in for a hit, allowing Piatt to coast into second base.

After starter Pete Janicki (1-2) hit Cody McKay and advanced both runners with a wild pitch, Todd Mensik singled in two runs to give the A's their first lead of the game, 3-2.

Caonabo Cosme followed with a double. Hipolito Martinez, who has been a terror for the JetHawks in all three games, then ripped a double into the left-field corner to score both Mensik and Cosme.

Kevin Miller also reached on a bloop single that fell in between three JetHawks on a mixup in shallow right field. Nathan Hayes blooped another single into left field to score Martinez, before Rodney Clifton doubled in Miller.

The final two runs scored on Piatt's second double of the inning. The final run crossed the plate when the JetHawks had trouble getting the ball back in from the outfield.

Things actually didn't start off badly for Lancaster, though, as Ramon Vazquez led of the first with a single and scored on a Modesto throwing error. The Lancaster shortstop made the score 2-1 when he led off the third with his second home run of the season.

Janicki, who was making his second start as a JetHawk, also started strong, retiring the first seven batters he faced. Not surprisingly, it was Martinez who broke up that string with his solo home run, to tie the game. The homer was Martinez's eighth of the season and sixth at The Hangar.

But things quickly started to fall apart for Janicki and the JetHawks in the fourth. The righthander left after 3 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits while striking out four.

Reliever Kevin Fitzgerald also struggled a little, allowing four runs, three of which were earned on eight hits and a walk in 2 2/3 innings.