Backup outfielder produces as JetHawks catch Stockton

Fernando Espino's bases-loaded single in the sixth inning highlighted Lancaster's rally in an important win over Stockton

In fact, Espino had played in only 12 games since he was promoted from Class A Wisconsin on July 9.

Saturday's game against Stockton proved to be unlucky 13. Not for Espino or the JetHawks, but for the Ports.

Espino's sixth-inning single drove in two runs to break a tie and help boost Lancaster to an 11-4 win over Stockton. The bases-loaded hit came with two out in the frame.

"That was a big two-out hit," JetHawks manager Rick Burleson said.

With the win, the JetHawks not only moved four games ahead of Stockton in the Valley Division wild-card race, but also moved back into a tie with Modesto in the race for that spot. The A's were 10-2 losers to Lake Elsinore at John Thurman Field.

The JetHawks entered the sixth trailing 3-2 after Stockton's Dave Elliott belted a solo homer off Lancaster starter Julio Ayala in the top of the fourth inning.

But Brendan Kingman tied the game on the first pitch Ports starter Derek Lee (5-9) threw in the bottom of the sixth inning, delivering a solo blast to left-center. The shot was Kingman's 15th of the season.

After Cirilo Cruz Jr. singled back up the middle and advanced to third on a stolen base and an error, Lee struck out Jason Regan and got Jayson Bass to line out to shortstop Jared Mathis.

Lee walked Karl Thompson and Matt Sasche to load the bases and bring up Espino for his 29th official at-bat in a Lancaster uniform.

"Even if I don't get to play very much, I try to give 100 percent when I do get to play," Espino said through the interpretation of Ayala. "It's tough because you can get a little rusty."

Espino didn't show any signs of rust, though, as he slapped the first pitch he saw through the left side of the Stockton infield, plating Cruz and Regan and giving the JetHawks their first lead of the game at 5-3.

Although the single definitely was the highlight so far of Espino's career in Lancaster, it wasn't the only contribution he made in Saturday's victory. The 21-year-old also laid down a sacrifice bunt to help start a four-run eighth inning and reached base on an error in the second inning.

He also made a nice running catch of Miguel Rodriguez's leadoff bleeder into right field in the top of the eighth.

"He's a guy who's worked real hard and stayed in good shape," Burleson said. "He made a big contribution to this win tonight."

Espino likely will see more playing time after Luis Tinoco was promoted to Class AA Orlando on Friday, leaving the JetHawks with only four full-time outfielders on the roster, and Kingman, who has started in left field the last three games.

"We have some guys that may not play every day, but when we call on them, we need them to produce," Burleson said. " I think you saw them do that tonight."

Infielder Joel Ramirez was another of those players Saturday. Ramirez, who saw his first action since he joined the team from Orlando on Thursday, went 2-for-5 with two RBI.

Ramirez also started perhaps the biggest defensive play of the night for the JetHawks in the top of the sixth. Elliott and Rodriguez opened the inning with backtoback singles, bringing Ayala's night to a close after five-plus innings.

Burleson called for Jose Gonzales, who got Greg Schaub to bounce to Ramirez at short, who flipped to Chris Dean at second to start an important double play.

"That was a big double play after that pitching change," Burleson said.

Gonzalez ended up with the victory, improving his record to 2-0 as Lancaster added two runs in the seventh and four in the eighth to secure the victory.