Rare error in crucial spot has JetHawks' Green fuming

That's why he was so upset when he committed back-to-back errors in the eighth inning of Thursday's victory over Rancho Cucamonga.

"That was about as mad as I've ever been on a baseball field," said Green, who committed eight errors all season before Thursday. "I take a lot of pride in my defense."

But Green made amends, crushing his fourth home run of the season in his next at-bat, a laser over the left-field wall hit that gave Lancaster a key insurance run.

"Greenie had a rough eighth inning, then goes and hits that home in the ninth," JetHawks manager Bill Plummer said. "That was a big, big run for us."

Said Green: "There was a lot of anger in that swing."

Two weeks ago, Green hadn't hit a homer all season. Now, after hitting two more on Friday night, he has six home runs.

"When I hit home runs, they usually come in bunches," Green said. "We're making a push for the playoffs, but it's always a good time for that to come, especially when it helps us win."

Green has always been productive at the top of Lancaster's order, hitting .305 (sixth-best in the league) with a .397 on-base percentage, but until recently, nobody expected power. In two weeks, Green has changed that perception.

"It's very uncharacteristic of Greenie, making those errors," JetHawks first baseman Corey Myers said. "But we've come to expect the power from him."

Come and get 'em

Tickets for the JetHawks first playoff game will go on sale today at 10 a.m., either in person at The Hangar or by phone through the JetHawks ticket office at (661) 726-5400.

The JetHawks first playoff game will be either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on whether or not Lancaster wins the south division's second-half title or enters the post-season as a wild card.

Uploaded August 31, 2002