No relief in sight for Bienaisz or `Hawks

Derek Bienaisz watched an early two-run lead slip away as Stockton exploded in a blowout victory over Lancaster

Unfortunately, that's exactly what he had to do Saturday at Stockton after Russ Koehler's turn in the rotation was skipped as a precautionary measure because of tendinitis in his right arm.

Bienaisz's starting troubles continued as he ran into a red-hot Ports lineup. The JetHawks watched an early two-run lead slip away and turn into an ugly 20-5 loss before 1,615 fans on a cold and blustery night at Billy Hebert Field.

The JetHawks dropped their third straight and fell five games under .500 (9-14) for the first time this season.

"Things just aren't clicking for us," JetHawks manager Darrin Garner said. "I just told them we'll get them tomorrow."

Stockton piled up season highs for runs and hits (19) in the game and blasted its first and second grand slams since August of 1997, despite the ejection of manager Bernie Moncallo in the sixth inning.

"They were very hot," Garner said. "They hit everything."

Unfortunately for Bienaisz, he got his fourth start of the season at the wrong time. The right-hander fell to 0-3, with all three losses coming when he has started.

Bienaisz, who opened the season in the Lancaster starting rotation, threw two scoreless innings in relief April 25 against Stockton, allowing only one hit during the stint and picking up his first strikeout of the year.

By comparison, Bienaisz sported an 11.25 ERA in his three starts entering Saturday, allowing 16 hits, six walks and 10 earned runs in eight innings of work.

"I think he pitched a lot better than he did in those first three starts," Lancaster pitching coach Greg Harris said. "He had better velocity and better control."

Unfortunately, Bienaisz's numbers Saturday won't reflect that. He was charged with five runs, four of which were earned, on six hits and two hit batters in four innings.

All five of those Ports runs scored after the JetHawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to a leadoff double by Jermaine Clark, consecutive errors charged to Ports shortstop Chris Rowan, and a sacrifice fly by Shawn McCorkle.

But that lead evaporated in the bottom of the third when Scott Sollman, who entered the game leading the league with a .467 batting average, doubled in Jeff Deardorff and Nick Caizzo.

Jeff Pickler gave the Ports a lead they would never relinquish one batter later with his single that got past McCorkle at first base and allowed Sollman to score from second.

Saturday marked the third consecutive night the JetHawks had let early leads slip away. Lancaster lost 1-0 advantages both Thursday at San Jose and Friday in the series opener with the Ports.

"Heck yeah, I'm concerned about that," Garner said. "We've been getting those early leads, now we need to hold them."

Things got ugly for the JetHawks in the fifth when the Ports scored six runs to blow the game open and take an 11-3 lead.

The big frame was fueled by Caiazzo's grand slam over the scoreboard in right field off Lancaster reliever Tim McClaskey. Rowan followed with a solo homer to right field.

The back-to-back homers marked the third time Stockton has accomplished the feat this season. All three have come against the JetHawks.

Mark Cridland added a second grand slam off shortstop Ramon Valera, who came on to pitch in an eight-run eighth inning.