GARRABRANTS EXPANDS ROLE FORMER INFIELDER MAKES AN IMPACT IN OUTFIELD.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LAKE ELSINORE - Steve Garrabrants started the season as a role player. But a month into the season, he's made it nearly impossible for JetHawks manager Bill Plummer to keep him out of the lineup.

Garrabrants, who was 3 for 5 with a grand slam in Sunday's 10-3 victory over Lake Elsinore, has hit safely in seven consecutive games. Over his last four games, he's 9 for 16 with four doubles, a homer and 10 RBI. His sudden surge has catapulted him to fourth in the California League batting race with a .356 average (26 for 73).

An infielder throughout almost all of his professional and collegiate career, Garrabrants has made an impact defensively playing center field in place of an injured Lino Garcia (hamstring).

He made an excellent running catch in the fourth inning of Saturday's 8-4 victory to take away extra bases from Lake Elsinore's Steve Baker on a line drive into the gap in left center.

He made an outstanding diving catch on a ball hit in front of him and to his left in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Inland Empire off the bat of Juan Gonzalez (who eventually hit a game-ending homer in the bottom of the ninth).

``He's been our sparkplug,'' Plummer said of Garrabrants. ``He's been one of our key guys whether he's batting ninth or leadoff.

``We'll find a place for him to play.''

Remarkably, Garrabrants hadn't played any outfield in his first two years of pro ball, and hadn't played the position since he was a sophomore at Arizona State in 2002, when he was used sparingly in that role.

Garrabrants credits work with outfield coordinator Lee Tinsley and JetHawks hitting coach Damon Mashore - a former major-league outfielder - with helping him adjust to playing the outfield.

He made his professional outfield debut on April 24 against Rancho Cucamonga.

``That first game I was out there I was a little bit shaky, but for the most part I've been getting good reads on the ball,'' Garrabrants said.

He made an especially good read in Saturday's game on Baker's liner, which allowed little margin for error.

``I got a good jump on it right off the bat,'' Garrabrants said. ``I saw right where it was going and got to that spot.''

How much more playing time Garrabrants actually gets in center field remains to be seen. Garcia, a 21-year-old Venezuelan native, is expected to come off the disabled list sometime this week, and his prospect status dictates that he get regular playing time at the position.

Nevertheless, Garrabrants believes his exposure to the outfield has boosted his value.

``It's kind of funny,'' Garrabrants said. ``(Teammate) Jay (Garthwaite) is an outfielder and now he's playing third base and I'm playing the outfield. We've kind of flip-flopped.''

--Mock pitches well: Lost in the commotion of the JetHawks' 12 hits and four home runs in Sunday's game was another strong start by pitcher Garrett Mock.

Mock (2-2), who won for the first time in seven starts going back to April 12, allowed two runs - one earned - and six hits in six innings.

Over his last three outings - all quality starts - he's allowed six earned runs over 19 innings to lower his ERA from 7.33 to 5.31.

``He was outstanding,'' Plummer said.

--Odds and ends: JetHawks shortstop Danny Richar suffered a mild concussion in the ninth inning of Saturday's game when he collided with outfielder Alex Frazier as Frazier made a running catch. Richar sat out Sunday's game after complaining of headaches, but is day-to-day, Plummer said. ... Plummer said the timing of Garcia's activation will be determined by field coordinator Jack Howell, who arrives in Lancaster today.

Gideon Rubin, [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

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Steve Garrabrants has hit safely in seven consecutive games for the JetHawks.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News