JetHawks reach an imperfect 10

Losing streak ties team record

By DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer

As the Lancaster JetHawks' are finding out, losing is a much more dangerous disease.

With Monday's 9-6 loss to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the JetHawks tied a team record set May 7-16 in 1996 for the longest losing streak in franchise history at 10 games.

The JetHawks, who have the worst winning percentage (.313) in minor league baseball, fell 24 games under .500 (20-44) with the loss.

"We've got to keep battling and keep our heads up," JetHawks manager Darrin Garner said. "That's all we can do."

The Quakes, who had an 11game winning streak come to an end on Sunday, kept pace with San Bernardino in the chase for the South Division first-half title with matching 37-27 records.

Rancho needed the win after the Stampede's Marcus Castillo threw a perfect game at Lake Elsinore on Monday. That was the third nine-inning perfect game in Cal League history and the first since Riverside's Rafael Valdez threw one July 20, 1989, against Reno.

There has been nothing perfect about the JetHawks' performance in the last 10 games. All three areas of Lancaster's game have failed it throughout the streak.

They have been outscored 75-34 and out-hit 119-86 since the slide began June 4 at The Epicenter. On top of that, the JetHawks have committed 14 errors and left 77 men on base during the losing skid, which has all come at the hands of either the Quakes or Stampede.

"It's just the way the schedule worked out," Lancaster designated hitter Greg Connors said. "We've had to play some pretty tough teams."

The JetHawks dug themselves too big a hole to claw their way out of early against the Quakes on Monday. After only three innings, the JetHawks were trailing 8-2.

Derek Bieniasz, who returned to the starting rotation for a spot start, got roughed up by a Rancho lineup that scored the eight runs on nine hits and a walk. After getting his first victory in his last start June 3, Bieniasz fell to 1-8, as he lasted only 2 innings.

After giving up two runs in the first and another score in the second, things really got rough for the right-hander in the third inning. The Quakes used six hits, including a two-run homer by Graham Koonce, to break open the game.

"These guys are trying to stay positive," Garner said. "But you see a big inning like that it's tough not to think, `Here we go again.' "

The Lancaster offense, which has now struck out more times (95) than it has hit (86) during the losing skid, didn't have a bad night, but couldn't catch up.

The JetHawks got a solo home run from Jermaine Clark in the first inning, his first of the season. Greg Connors added a two-run blast to straight-away center field in the fifth, as the JetHawks attempted a rally with three runs to trim the lead to 8-6.

But that was as close as they would come against a stingy Rancho bullpen that has a 0.65 ERA in the 13 games the team has played this month. Angel Aragon picked up his second save of the year, while starter John Foran got the win and improved to 8-3.