COLE A STAR IN TEXAS.

Byline: CHRIS COCOLES The Minors

Eric Cole has been hot all season. What makes it even better, his teammate, Keith Ginter, is even hotter.

Cole, an Antelope Valley High and Antelope Valley College product, provides the back end of the Texas League's best 1-2 punch.

Ginter bats second and Cole third for the Round Rock Express, a Houston Astros affiliate. All Ginter has done is lead the Texas League in batting (.405) and on-base percentage.

That gives Cole plenty of chances to see good pitches and drive in runs, which the 24-year-old outfielder has done well. Cole has 42 RBI, second only to Ginter's 47.

Cole has eight homers, 18 doubles and a .333 average, also good enough to place him in the top 10 in the Texas League batting race.

``I've been lucky to get a few pitches I could really drive when we needed runs, so I've been able to help out,'' Cole told the Austin American- Statesman.

Cole has flourished after undergoing a terrifying ordeal in spring-training when he and other Astros minor-leaguers were robbed at gunpoint.

He's been able to focus on his game, and the Astros have noticed. Cole was given a vote of confidence when he got the opportunity to play in the California Fall League during the offseason.

And he's developed into a dependable run producer at the Double-A level after he didn't play a full season his first three years in the Houston organization.

Last year, Cole had a brief callup to Double-A in August when the club was still in Jackson, Miss. And he's making a case to get a crack at Triple-A before the end of the summer.

``I didn't actually do much . . . when I got called up, but afterwards I still felt I could play at the Texas League level,'' Cole said.

``My numbers weren't very good, but it was more because by the end of the year I was pretty tired from the season at (Single-A Kissimmee of the Florida State League). I knew I could do better if I started (at Double-A) fresh, and that's the way it's worked out so far.''

--He's human: Justin Lehr has been the Single-A California League's dominant pitcher. So dominant that even a rough outing still has his earned-run average near the top of the league.

Lehr, that other USC pitcher drafted by the Oakland A's last year - Barry Zito was the club's first selection - took a 6-0 record and 1.65 ERA into last Thursday's start for Modesto.

But the San Jose Giants took advantage of Lehr's failure to keep his pitches down in the zone, a key to his success considering he's not an overly hard thrower.

Lehr did last 5 1/3 innings, but he allowed seven earned runs. Lehr's first shaky performance was almost expected by his manager, the way he analyzed it.

``Justin didn't have his best stuff tonight, and really, he's been battling in his last couple outings,'' Modesto's Greg Sparks said.

It's not time for the A's to panic. Lehr has been sharp, giving up three earned runs or less in each of his first 10 outings until Thursday's first loss.

Lehr's ERA jumped to 2.55, but that's still the Cal League's second lowest, trailing fellow Oakland farmhand Keith Surkont (2.34) of Visalia.

--Check swings: The much-traveled Andrew Lorraine (Hart), signed by the Cleveland Indians last week after he was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs, won in his first appearance at Triple-A Buffalo last week. Lorraine allowed three earned runs in five innings of relief. . . .

Looking for unsung heroes during the JetHawks' 30-19 start? Try the bullpen, especially the middle relievers and setup pitchers who rarely get attention anyway.

Granted, closer Brandon Parker, a converted starter, has 13 saves. But much of Parker's success is because of the work done by Allan Simpson (2-2, 2.70 ERA) and Kenny Rayborn (4-0, 2.12). . . .

Randey Dorame, a left-hander in the Dodgers organization, doesn't have much zip with his fastball, a limitation that might keep him from reaching the major leagues. But the native of Mexico should get a chance to pitch at a higher level considering he's mastering Single-A again.

Dorame went 14-3 with a 2.51 ERA with San Bernardino in the Cal League in 1999. Sent to Vero Beach, also in advanced Single-A of the Florida State League, Dorame was off to a 6-0 start with a 2.45 ERA.