Offense stuck in Giant funk

Problems at The Hangar linger

It was still one too many.

The mistake, a Derek Bieniasz pitch Tony Zuniga blasted off the hitters' backdrop in center field as the second batter of the game, stood up as the only scoring in a 1-0 San Jose Giants victory seen by 2,413 at The Hangar. It was Lancaster's fourth straight loss at home, dropping its record at Lancaster Municipal Stadium to 2-11.

As if they needed any more bad news, injured designated hitter Mike Marchiano was too sick to come to the ballpark, and first baseman Shawn McCorkle joined him on the sidelines with an ankle injury that required a walking cast.

McCorkle, coming off a four-hit game Tuesday vs. Lake Elsinore, was joined on the disabled list by Jeff Farnsworth, who's battling a case of back spasms.

Bieniasz (0-4) deserved a better fate. He allowed the defending California League champions five hits over 6 2/3 innings, and only two Giants touched third base all evening.

"I felt pretty good today," Bieniasz said. "It was one of those days when everything was working. I give all the credit to Pee Wee (catcher Rafael Lopez). He called a great game."

Against anyone other than Ryan Vogelsong, it might have been enough to win.

The San Jose right-hander, the San Francisco Giants' fifth-round selection in the 1998 draft out of Kutztown (Pa.) State, lowered his ERA to 1.29 by one-hitting Lancaster over 6 2/3 innings.

After striking out 11 and walking two, Vogelsong, 21, boasts the gaudy totals of 46 strikeouts, seven walks and only 10 hits allowed in 28 innings pitched.

"We knew it would be a battle going in," JetHawks manager Darrin Garner said. "We knew we weren't going to get much against him. But Derek threw a great game, probably the best game he has ever pitched."

After Zuniga's third home run of the season, Bieniasz disposed of 17 of the next 20 batters he faced until Tim Flaherty and Angel Menenedez hit singles off visibly slower pitches in the seventh.

Tim McClaskey came on to strand both runners in scoring position. He struck out two.

Greg Connors walked with one out in the seventh against Vogelsong, who had retired the first 12 batters he faced before Connors' leadoff single in the fifth.

Erasmo Ramirez got two quick outs, then stranded Lopez and Joel Ramirez after base hits in the eighth. Matt Wells worked the ninth for his fourth save, striking out a pair to leave Luis Figueroa at second base after a base hit and Connors' sacrifice bunt.

"We're hurting a little bit with a few key guys down," Connors said. "That guy (Vogelsong) had great stuff, but we battled him the best we could.

"We played an excellent game tonight. If we keep playing like that, we're going to start winning."