Lancaster relief ace easily douses Blaze

By DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer

For Lancaster's Justin Kaye, it just took a change of hair color.

Kaye, who was sporting his sixth different color of the season, recorded the final four outs against Bakersfield - all via strikeout - to nail down a 9-3 victory over the Blaze on Sunday before 2,806 fans at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

In the process, the closer picked up his first save since June 25 at Stockton. Kaye, who had eight saves when he represented the California League at the midseason all-star game, had gone 0-3 with an 11.85 ERA in his 14 appearances since then.

"It was pretty nice," Kaye said. "It's been a long month, and I was just trying to get back what I lost mechanically."

Even though the win came by six runs, there was nothing cheap about the save.

Kaye came on in relief of starter Greg Wooten (6-3), who pitched 7 solid innings, but left with the JetHawks clinging to a 6-3 lead and the potential game-tying run stepping to the plate. Pinch-hitter Doug Clark, who is the league's third best hitter with a .345 average, represented that run.

Kaye seemed unimpressed, though, as it took him only four pitches to retire Clark on strikes and end the Bakersfield threat, stranding two runners. Two nasty changeups made the difference for Kaye against the left-handed batter.

"I've been working with (Mariners' pitching coordinator) Bryan Price and (Lancaster pitching coach) Greg Harris trying to smooth things out," Kaye said. "I've been just trying to keep things down in the zone and throw strikes. . . Things finally went my way today, and it felt good."

The JetHawks added three more runs to the cushion in the bottom of the eighth, but Kaye needed little help, as he struck out three of the four batters he faced in the top of the ninth to claim his 11th save of the season. Joel Fuentes, who flared a one-out single into center field, was the only Blaze batter to reach against Kaye, who threw 15 of his 18 pitches for strikes.

Kaye, who has dyed his hair blonde, white, orange, purple and red during the season, once again changed color Saturday night. For the record, the new color was deep burgundy.

"That's what the box said," Kaye joked. "I guess I'll stick with it for a while."

The JetHawks, who won their second straight to improve to 14-24 in the second half and 37-71 overall, would also like to continue the success they had Sunday.

While Wooten and Kaye had matters on the mound well in hand, the rest of the team chipped in with a solid day both at the plate and in the field.

Lancaster, which did not commit an error, pounded out 15 hits, including seven for extra bases. Jerry Amador and Jermaine Clark each had three hits and drove in two runs, while Jason Regan added his 10th home run since the allstar break and his second in as many games.

"We put together a game," Lancaster manager Darrin Garner said. "We had all three areas today - good pitching, good offense and good defense. It's been a long time since we've had all three. Hopefully this is a start of something good."

Uploaded August 2, 1999