Regan hits homer for win, record

But more importantly, his team has the victory.

Regan's 10th-inning two-run blast Friday night not only broke James Clifford's franchise mark for career home runs, but also gave the Lancaster JetHawks a 7-5 victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm before 5,737 fans at The Diamond.

"I forgot all about that," Regan said of breaking the record. "I was so excited about getting a big hit. I didn't even get the ball."

Lancaster (9-13, 32-60) won its second straight and claimed its second consecutive series victory.

And the JetHawks did it without the services of manager Darrin Garner, hitting coach Dana Williams or catcher Rafael Lopez, who were all ejected by home-plate umpire Steve Cox in a five-minute period that spanned one at-bat in the bottom of the ninth inning.

"That seemed like it lit a fire underneath them when we all left," Garner said. "They didn't let down."

But the win didn't come easily as the JetHawks watched a 4-0 lead at the seventh-inning stretch evaporate with two runs from the Storm in both the seventh and ninth innings to send the game to extra innings.

The JetHawks didn't wait long to get things started in extra frames, though, as Greg Connors opened the 10th with a single into left field. After Jerry Amador's sacrifice bunt, Regan belted his 46th career homer in Lancaster purple and red over the left-field wall to give the JetHawks a 6-4 lead. The blast came off Lake Elsinore reliever Cody Morrison (3-5).

"That was the second time I faced him, and the last time he had me 1-2, he threw me a slider or a curveball, whatever he calls it," Regan said. "I was looking for the same thing and he hung it to me a little."

Consecutive doubles by Joel Ramirez and Jermaine Clark netted Lancaster an insurance run.

Jeff Farnsworth, who came into the game with the tying run standing at second base and watched it score on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Darren Blakely, got the win to improve to 3-5.

For the second consecutive night, the JetHawks managed a win despite facing an Anaheim major leaguer on a rehabilitation assignment.

Outfielder Tim Salmon, who is attempting to come back from a left wrist sprain he suffered May 3, began what is expected to be a three-game assignment with the Storm, one night after Jack McDowell pitched 7 innings and took the loss.

"I'm still feeling a little bit of pain, but not a whole lot," Salmon said of his wrist. "It's at a point where I can tolerate it."

Salmon, who led off as the Storm's designated hitter, appeared to be well on his way to doing that.

Unlike McDowell a night earlier, Salmon had a positive effect on the Storm. His RBI double off the top of the left-center field wall in the ninth inning scored Nelson Castro from first base to draw the Storm within one run, 4-3. Juan Rodrigues, who pinch-ran for Salmon, ended up tying the game.

The ninth-inning RBI was just the culmination of a strong night for the 1993 Rookie of the Year, who finished the evening 3-for-5 with two RBI and two doubles.

Salmon's night got started in the first inning when he went the other way with a 1-2 pitch from Lancaster starter Brandon Parker for a single. Parker got his revenge, though, striking out Salmon looking in the third.

But in the seventh, Salmon doubled in Castro to draw the Storm within two runs, 4-2, and chase Parker from the game after 6 innings.

Most importantly, Salmon showed no signs of trouble with the wrist.

"It's just as important as a pitcher's elbow or shoulder," Salmon said. "It's the most important part of my swing, and those are the kind of things you don't want to push too hard."

But with two more strong performances at High Desert this weekend, Salmon hopes to return to the Angels' active roster as soon as Monday. That would be just in time for an important two-game series at Texas on Wednesday and Thursday.

"I think that could be a good lift to this team," Salmon said. "Jim (Edmonds) is close to being back and if we can get Ken Hill back, we'll be in good shape. It would be like pulling off a July 31 trade without losing anything."