Fernandez's shot ends losing streak

Alexander Fernandez's second home run of the game helped Lancaster defeat High Desert in extra innings.

Of course, the winds always seem to be howling when these two teams meet. Welcome to baseball in the High Desert.

In a game only a basketball fan could love, the Lancaster JetHawks slugged their way to a 14-13, 10-inning victory over the High Desert Mavericks before 1,240 wind-blown spectators Tuesday at Maverick Stadium.

Outfielder Alexander Fernandez hit a solo home run over the right-center field wall with two out in the top of the 10th to give the JetHawks the margin they would need to end a four-game losing streak.

The homer, which came off High Desert reliever Wellington Cepeda (1-1), was the second of both the game and the season for Fernandez, who went 3-for-5 with with three runs scored, three RBI and a double.

"With two strikes on me, I was just trying to make contact," Fernandez said. "I needed to protect the plate. I wan't thinking home run."

Lancaster had to rally for four runs in the top of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. Mike Marchiano capped the rally when his two-out single into center field scored Ramon Valera from second base, tying the game 13-13.

"In a park like this, with the wind blowing out, four runs is nothing," said Lancaster catcher Greg Connors, who went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, four RBI, a double and a home run. "We could have rolled over, but we stayed in there."

Even though the JetHawks were glad to take the victory and end their losing skid, they probably won't look back on Tuesday's game as a thing of beauty.

The two teams combined for 31 hits, 14 walks, eight errors and many other mental mistakes in the blustery night. Lancaster twice lost leads of five runs, while the Mavericks lost a late four-run lead to send the game to extra innings.

"Win or lose, we didn't play as well as we should have tonight," JetHawks manager Darrin Garner said.

Lancaster jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning on five hits, one walk and one High Desert error. The frame was highlighted by Fernandez's first home run, a tworun blast to about the same exact spot his game-winning shot landed.

The Mavericks trimmed the lead to 5-4 in the bottom of the second on two hits, a walk and the first of four Lancaster errors.

But Lancaster rebuilt an advantage after Connors golfed a wind-aided two-run homer to center field in the third and singled in Marchiano in the fourth. Luis Figueroa scored on a wild pitch to give Lancaster a 9-4 lead.

But once again, the Mavericks came back in the bottom of the fifth. This time, they were aided by three Lancaster errors. Robby Hammock, who had five RBI, scored on Alex Cintron's single to give High Desert a 10-9 lead.