San Jose jinx for JetHawks finally halted

Greg Wooten's complete game allowed Lancaster to capture a series in San Jose for the first time since 1966

By DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer

In their first-ever trip to the Bay Area early in the 1996 season, the Lancaster JetHawks claimed two of three games from the San Jose Giants in a series April 10-12.

But since that time San Jose Municipal Stadium has been the JetHawks' personal house of horrors.

Lancaster dropped six consecutive series, including two by sweeps. The JetHawks' 7-16 record (.304) in San Jose entering play Monday was by far their worst at any stop of the California League circuit.

But with their 8-4 victory over the Giants before 2,378 fans Monday at Municipal Stadium, Lancaster gained a measure of revenge in the Bay Area.

The victory was the JetHawks' second in three games on the trip north, marking the first time they had gotten the better of the Giants at San Jose since that series victory early in 1996.

"We got the chance to play a little spoiler against a team that is probably going to the playoffs," JetHawks manager Darrin Garner said. "We'll get another chance here with San Bernardino. Like I told these guys, we're not going to quit."

Lancaster grabbed its first series victory away from Lancaster Municipal Stadium since it took two of three at the Lake Elsinore Diamond July 14-16.

In the process, the JetHawks won their 23rd game of the second half, equaling their mark from the first half with 12 games still remaining in the season. Lancaster stands 23-35 since the all-star break and 46-82 overall.

"We dropped the first one here, but it was nice to see us come back and win the next two," righthander Greg Wooten said. "We're trying to end the season on a good note."

Even though he played for the JetHawks in 1996, Wooten was not a part of the team when it won its last series in San Jose. He still was at Class A Wisconsin at the time.

But the Oregon native certainly played a role in the JetHawks' series victory this time, grabbing a complete-game victory Monday to improve to 8-4 since joining the team June 4 out of extended spring training.

"He had only 91 pitches (entering the ninth inning)," Lancaster pitching coach Greg Harris said. "And he wasn't dying or struggling or anything. We said, `Why not let him finish?' "

Wooten, who has become the JetHawks' most consistent starter as he attempts to bounce back from reconstructive elbow surgery last August, was nearly flawless during the first seven innings.

William Otero led off the game for the Giants with a solo home run on Wooten's second pitch, but that was the only run the pitcher would allow until San Jose touched him for two in the eighth and one more in the ninth.

The complete game was Wooten's second of the season, giving him 100 innings pitched in only 15 starts.

"I had a couple of starts where I didn't go as long as I would have wanted," said Wooten, who finished with 116 pitches. "It was nice to finish this one off."

Wooten allowed the four earned runs on nine hits and three walks and a wild pitch while striking out five.

He also got plenty of help from his offense.

Lancaster answered Otero's home run in the top of the second when Shawn McCorkle singled in Jason Regan to tie the game.

The JetHawks took the lead in the third, loading the bases with no outs. Alex Fernandez hit into a double play, but Jermaine Clark still scored to increase the lead to 2-1.

Matt Sachse didn't allow the inning to go to waste, picking up a key two-out double to score both Harvey Hargrove and Regan, increasing the JetHawks' lead to three runs.

Lancaster added two unearned runs off starter Bill Malloy (4-3) in the seventh and two more in the eighth to put the game away for Wooten.

Uploaded August 24, 1999