'HAWKS LOSE 6TH IN A ROW BAKERSFIELD 5, JETHAWKS 4.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The last thing the slumping JetHawks needed was to face Seth McClung, one of the California League's most highly regarded pitchers.

And that, combined with another big offensive night from Rocco Baldelli, was too much for the JetHawks, who lost their sixth consecutive game, 5-4 to the Bakersfield Blaze in front of 1,524 at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

Lancaster (5-15) has lost eight of its last nine games and 12 of its last 14. It committed another error, extending to 20 its streak of games in which it has committed at least one miscue.

McClung, an overpowering 6-foot-6, 235-pound right-hander, allowed two runs - both earned - on six hits. He struck out seven and walked one.

Baldelli was 2 for 5, including a two-run double in the top of the sixth that broke a 2-2 tie. He was 9 for 17 with two homers and seven RBI in the series.

Trailing 5-3 entering the eighth, Lancaster had runners on second and third with no outs when Craig Ansman drew a leadoff walk and went to third on Corey Myers' double to left. But the JetHawks managed just one run on Brian Epke's groundout.

Evan Rust retired the last four batters to earn his league-leading sixth save for Bakersfield, which won its sixth consecutive game.

JetHawks starter Francisco Trejo (0-3) allowed four runs, all earned, on six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT

--Tuesday's top performers: Ryan Hankins (Simi Valley) homered twice, both solo shots, to help Double-A Birmingham (Ala.) to a 3-1 victory over Chattanooga (Tenn.). ... Woody Cliffords (El Camino Real/Pepperdine) doubled and tripled for Single-A Delmarva (Md.). ... Andy Dominique (Alemany) had two hits and an RBI for Single-A Clearwater (Fla.). ... C.J. Wilson (Loyola Marymount) improved his Single-A Charlotte (Fla.) record to 2-0, allowing no earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of a 4-3 victory over Sarasota (Fla.) ... Scott Walter (Loyola Marymount) hit his second homer for Single-A Wilmington (Del.)... Bobby Graves (Hart/Cal State Northridge) threw two scoreless innings of relief for Double-A Erie (Pa.).

- Chris Cocoles

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MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT (see text)