Story of this soggy game starts with another Lancaster loss

Lancaster starter Neil Longo was roughed up for eight runs as the JetHawks lost another game to league-leading Modesto

By MIKE STREET
Valley Press Staff Writer

Was it Oakland A's reliever Kevin Jarvis making his second rehabilitation start against the Lancaster JetHawks in five days?

Was it Congressman Buck McKeon visiting The Hangar?

Or maybe was it the way Lancaster starter Neil Longo was getting knocked around?

Add in a 46-minute rain delay and your final story line included an 8-0 Modesto A's lead over the JetHawks at press time in bottom of the eighth inning.

The game was being delayed for the second time after Lancaster reliever Juan Ramos worked a scoreless top half of the eighth.

Jarvis, who limited Lancaster (19-32) to one run on three hits in three innings last Friday, was in command from the first pitch.

The 6-foot-2 right-hander set the side down in order through the first three innings. Harvey Hargrove's double to right-center in the bottom of the fourth inning was the only Lancaster hit off Jarvis, who struck out five in his four innings of work.

Longo (2-1), on the other hand, was roughed up for eight runs - all earned - on nine hits in fourplus innings.

The right-hander, who was making his fifth start for the JetHawks since arriving from Class A Wisconsin on May 10, fell apart in the top of the fifth.

With the A's (37-15) already leading 4-0, Eric Byrnes' single preceded Jason Hart's eighth homer of the year to center field.

Jacques Landry followed with a double to left-center and Oscar Salazar reached first on a strikeout and a wild pitch. That was it for Longo, who was relieved by Donnie Schmidt.

But Schmidt didn't help Longo's cause, walking Jesus Basabe to load the bases and Miguel Olivio to force in a run. Esteban German's sacrifice fly to right scored Salazar to close the book on Longo.

Lancaster's only shot to open the books against any Modesto pitcher came in the bottom of the seventh against A's reliever Jon Adkins.

With two outs and Ricky Madaleno on first via an error by Adkins, Cirilo Cruz singled to right, putting runners on first and second.

But Adkins immediately rectified the situation, striking out Alex Fernandez to end the JetHawks' meek threat.

Fernandez collected the only other hit of the game for Lancaster in the bottom of the fifth.

Modesto opened the game with a single run in the first inning and added two in the top of the second before Longo worked his best inning of the game in the fourth, facing only four batters.

Today's scheduled starter, Brandon Parker, was scratched due to an unspecified injury. Jason Turman (1-6) will start in his place.