Visalia snaps Lancaster's streak

Visalia rounded up Lancaster starter Chris Mears and snapped the JetHawks' seventh winning streak

But while some of the 2,907 fans in attendance got the opportunity to live out their fantasies of everything from being a radio broadcaster to an honorary coach in the dugout, the Lancaster JetHawks' immediate dream came to an abrupt end.

The JetHawks entered Sunday with hopes of not only keeping their faint playoff hopes alive, but also tying a franchise record eight-game win streak.

With the Visalia Oaks' 13-6 victory over Lancaster and San Bernardino's 7-6 win over Rancho Cucamonga, both dreams ended Sunday.

Lancaster's loss and San Bernardino's win means the JetHawks will miss the playoffs for the first time in three years.

"We knew our (playoff) chances were slim," JetHawks manager Darrin Garner said. "We needed a lot of things to go right for us. But this doesn't mean we're going to quit."

Lancaster, which lost for the first time since Aug. 21 at San Jose, dropped to 51-83 overall and 28-36 in the second half.

"It was a nice streak," Garner said. "It was about time we had one."

While the JetHawks used outstanding starting pitching and a productive offense to build the winning streak, both areas failed them severely Sunday.

Starter Chris Mears (3-6), who missed his last start because of a blister on his finger, lasted only 2 innings. During that time, the Oaks touched him for eight earned runs on seven hits and three walks.

That was more than the Lancaster offense would generate in the entire game. The JetHawks' offense was held to a paltry four hits by Visalia starter Juan Pena (9-5) and reliever Brandon Nogowski.

"We can't do it everyday, as much as we'd like," Lancaster designated hitter Patrick Williams said. "I guess that guy just had our number today."

Visalia, meanwhile, had little problems getting its offense started, as Todd Mensik hit a two-run homer off Mears in the top of the first inning.

The Oaks stretched the lead to 5-0 in the second with Eddie Lara's solo home run and an RBI triple from Gary Schneidmiller, who also scored on Aaron Nieckula's sacrifice fly.

"(Mears) struggled tonight," Garner said. "He just didn't look like himself."

Lancaster responded in the bottom of the second with Juan Alcala's double, which plated Jason Regan and Shawn McCorkle. Visalia came back and broke the game open with four runs in the third on five hits.

Lancaster pulled within 10-6 thanks to Patrick Williams' 23rd home run of the season in the seventh, but Visalia put the game away with three runs in the top of the eighth, including an insidethe-park homer from Rusty Keith.

The Oaks outhit the JetHawks 20-4.