Shot takes down JetHawks

Nick Caiazzo's leadoff homer in the bottom of the 11th inning cost Lancaster a shot at its first series sweep of the season

By DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer

The JetHawks right-hander has felt his share of pain and heartbreak here.

In a May 1 game against the Ports, McClaskey took one for the team, surrendering 13 earned runs on 12 hits and three walks in perhaps the roughest 3 innings in Lancaster team history.

Saturday, he allowed a leadoff home run to Stockton designated hitter Nick Caiazzo in the 11th inning, giving the Ports a 2-1 victory over Lancaster before 1,234 delighted Ports faithful at Billy Hebert Field.

"Tim was pitching pretty well," JetHawks manager Darrin Garner said. "He had only about 15 or 16 pitches (in 2 innings) entering that inning. He just made a bad pitch that the guy hit out."

Caiazzo's sixth homer of the season, which came on a 3-1 pitch and cleared the left-center field wall, ended the JetHawks' bid to sweep their first series of more than one game this year. It also halted a three-game win streak for Lancaster (2-1, 25-48).

Stockton (1-2, 35-38) ended a four-game losing streak of its own with the extra-inning win.

McClaskey (3-1), who returned to the JetHawks on Thursday after being promoted to Class AA New Haven on June 8, took his first loss in four California League decisions this year.

"This is a tough one to take," Garner said. "We had our chances to win this game. We should have won it 5 or 6 to 1. But we didn't convert."

Lancaster stranded 11 runners in the game, including seven in scoring position.

The most costly missed opportunity came in the third inning, when the JetHawks loaded the bases with three consecutive oneout base hits by Jermaine Clark, Harvey Hargrove and Jason Regan. Shawn McCorkle hit a 1-2 offering from Stockton starter Chad Helmer hard, but right at first baseman Scott Kirby, who snared the shot and stepped on first base for a threat-ending double play.

"That one hurt, but we also had guys on third a number of times with one out that we couldn't bring home," Garner said. "You've got to bring those guys home."

Like they did in the first two games of the series at Stockton, the JetHawks once again got an outstanding performance from their starting pitcher.

Greg Wooten followed in the steps of both Neil Longo on Thursday and Brandon Parker on Friday, pitching deep into the game.

"Mr. Wooten pitched a heck of a game," Garner said. "He still felt strong when I took him out."

After allowing the first batter he faced, Scott Sollman, to single and steal both second and third, Wooten surrendered his only run of the game on Caiazzo's RBI groundout to shortstop.

Wooten scattered six hits over the next seven scoreless innings. The right-hander, who gave way to McClaskey with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, allowed one intentional walk and struck out three.

Lancaster evened the score with a pair of two-out base hits in the top of the second. Alex Fernandez started the rally with a single into center field, before advancing to second on a wild pitch and to third with a stolen base.

Greg Connors, who was mired in an 0-for-15 slump, scored Fernandez when he snuck a double just inside third base.