Opportunity knocks, JetHawks can't reply

Trouble with situational hitting led to squandered opportunities and another one-run loss for Lancaster

By DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer

JetHawks manager Darrin Garner picked up the bat and disgustedly threw it into the Lancaster dugout.

What else are you going to do after another prime scoring opportunity slips through your fingers?

The Bakersfield Blaze completed a three-game sweep of the JetHawks with a 2-1 victory Monday before 2,766 fans at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

"It was very disappointing," Garner said. "We need to start executing."

Bakersfield swept the threegame series by a combined three runs, grabbing a one-run victory in each game. Lancaster struggled offensively throughout the series, producing a combined 16 hits and nine runs.

Although the JetHawks, who dropped to a franchise-worst 16-29, missed a number of prime scoring chances in the series, probably none were more frustrating than the one they squandered in the sixth inning Monday.

After Jose Moreno doubled in Jermaine Clark to draw the JetHawks within one run, 2-1, the JetHawks had the potential gametying and go-ahead runs in scoring position with no outs.

"I've told these guys 20 million times, in that situation you need to play pepper with the middle infielder," Garner said. "You've got to hit the ball up the middle, whether it's on the first pitch or not. That's how you get the runners home."

But unfortunately for the JetHawks, that didn't happen.

Bakersfield starter Joe Horgan (2-0) struck out Cirilo Cruz Jr. and loaded the bases with one out by intentionally walking Greg Connors.

That brought up catcher Rafael Lopez, who entered the game hitting .163 but who had doubled in the fifth inning.

This time, Lopez bounced a 2-0 pitch back to Horgan. The lefthander threw home to retire Harvey Hargrove. Catcher Guillermo Rodriguez completed the 1-2-3 double-play and ended both the inning and the JetHawks' best scoring threat by making a strong throw to first to retire Lopez.

"That was frustrating," Garner said. "You have got to execute in those positions. . . Situational hitting is just as important as situational defense."

Although that was the most noticeable and possibly most frustrating missed opportunity, it wasn't the only one for the JetHawks.

In the third inning, Clark was thrown out trying to steal third base for the second out of the inning.

In the fifth, Lopez's leadoff double was wasted after he reached third base with one out on Fernandez's groundout. Lopez was unable to advance the final 90 feet because Gerald Eady grounded out to the left side of the Bakersfield infield and Joel Ramirez flied out.

The lack of offense wasted what was a relatively strong start by Jason Turman. Although he allowed seven hits and a walk, Turman limited the Blaze to two earned runs through seven innings.

"He pitched a good game for us," Garner said. "But we couldn't take advantage of it."

Bakersfield got to Turman in the fifth, after he walked John Summers to lead off the inning. Summers ended up scoring on Arturo McDowell's ground out.

Jeff Allen, who was the hero in Sunday's game, gave the Blaze a 2-0 lead with his leadoff homer in the top of the sixth.