JetHawks find shelter from streaking Storm

Brandon Parker improved to 4-0, retiring the first 16 batters he faced in Lancaster win

By DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer

But not in this case.

On one hand, the Lancaster JetHawks started Brandon Parker, who entered Wednesday's game with the third-best ERA (1.85) in the California League and a perfect 3-0 record.

On the other, the Lake Elsinore Storm had Joe Gangemi, who entered the game with a less-thansparkling 1-4 record and 7.20 ERA.

The pitching mismatch lived up to its billing as both Parker and Gangemi pitched like their numbers would indicate. While Gangemi didn't record an out in the third inning, Parker helped jump-start the JetHawks to a 6-2 victory before 1,944 Storm faithful at The Diamond.

The JetHawks improved to 6-1 in games that Parker has started.

"Every time he takes the mound, these guys realize, `Hey, it's Parker,' " JetHawks manager Darrin Garner said. "They know they have to be on their toes because he is going to make things happen. He gives us a chance to win every time he goes out there."

The win once again kept Lancaster (13-21) from falling 10 games under .500 for the first time in the franchise's four-year history. It also ended a four-game winning streak by the Storm (15-8), which conveniently started the game after Gangemi last pitched.

Once again, starting pitching made all the difference in the world for the JetHawks on Wednesday.

"If we can get some solid pitching to start the game, I think we'll be fine," Garner said. "You saw what happened tonight. We have the guys that can close the door, we just need our starters to keep us in the game early. Brandon has proven that he can do that."

Parker, who picked up his fourth victory of the season, was outstanding if not overpowering. The right-hander retired the first 16 batters he faced in the game.

Not that the Storm were overwhelmed by the pitcher who had the third most strikeouts (43) in the league entering the game. Of the first 16 outs, eight came via fly balls to the outfield.

"It doesn't matter if they're strikeouts, ground outs or fly outs," Parker said. "As long as they're outs."

Parker added four of his five strikeouts in the game during the stretch to help keep the Storm off the basepaths.

But with one out in the bottom of the sixth, Jay Hood's shot down the right-field line landed fair by only a foot or two. The double broke up both the perfect game and the no-hitter.

The shutout went by the wayside one batter later, when Nelson Castro sent a similar shot down the right-field line for an RBI single.

Parker left the game after the seventh, having allowed two earned runs on three hits and one walk.

"Every day I go out there, I feel good," Parker said. "Every day, I feel 100 percent. I just go out there and throw."

Most importantly, he throws strikes. Of Parker's 93 pitches in the game, 63 were for strikes.

The same could not be said for Gangemi. Of his 52 pitches through two-plus innings, only 28 were for strikes. When Gangemi did find the strike zone, the JetHawks greeted him with six of their 11 base hits.

Although the left-hander escaped the first inning with only a Luis Figueroa double, he wasn't as fortunate in the second.

Jose Moreno picked up his first RBI of the season when he doubled in Cirilo Cruz Jr. for the first run of the game. Josh Taylor then recorded his first hit as a JetHawk and his first two RBI of the season with a two-out, bases-loaded single to give the JetHawks a 3-0 lead.

Gangemi continued to struggle in the third, allowing three singles to open the frame before being lifted for Jeremy Callier. Greg Connors ended up scoring on a wild pitch by Callier, and Moreno drove in Cruz to up the Lancaster advantage to 5-0 after three innings.

Connors also singled in Gerald Eady in the fourth inning to give the JetHawks a comfortable sixrun lead.