IN 7-2 WIN, JETHAWKS' BUHNER PLAYS MORE LIKE A BUHNER.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

After a game like Friday night's, it felt good for Shawn Buhner to sit in the Lancaster JetHawks clubhouse.

Even though most of his teammates were leaving after a 7-2 victory over San Bernardino, Buhner was content to sit and chew tobacco.

He felt he earned it after his two-double effort Friday night. He also drove in a run and saw his batting average jump from .197 to .208.

Yet as he sat there, he wondered aloud why every night can't be as good.

He takes extra batting practice - did again Friday night. He works hard. Heck, his brother is Seattle's Jay Buhner. He's got to have some of the genes, right?

``I'm struggling, and it's frustrating because I'm a better hitter than the numbers show,'' Buhner said.

On this night, he was back feeling like a Buhner, twice hitting the ball with power to left field.

``It feels good to drive the ball like that,'' he said.

And the timing is right, too. Lancaster is in a tight race with Rancho Cucamonga for first place in the California League's Southern Division.

With that in mind, Buhner took extra batting practice and worked with manager Dave Brundage on situational hitting before Friday's game.

It paid off immediately. In the fifth inning, with a runner on third and one out, Buhner got the fastball he was looking for from San Bernardino pitcher Dennis Reyes and drove it to left for a double.

One inning earlier, he had done the same with a Reyes fastball.

``He swings the bat aggressively,'' Brundage said. ``He earned his three (at-bats) tonight.''

Not only that, it earned him an at-bat against a right-handed pitcher. Buhner usually bats against left-handers only, but Brundage kept him in when San Bernardino brought in a righty. Buhner walked and grounded out against Jeff Keppen. This also was the first time this season he played consecutive games.

What's the difference? Lancaster pitcher Ken Cloude makes it perfectly clear how he's going to pitch. He's going to throw fastballs around the outside part of the plate most of the time. Just try to hit them.

In his past two starts, both against San Bernardino, the hits haven't been coming, so Cloude's winning. On Friday night, he struck out eight in pitching a complete-game four-hitter.

``I went right after them,'' he said, ``and they didn't adjust tonight.''

Brundage said he was pleased that Cloude sailed through the early innings. He's had a history of struggling in the first and second innings. As a result, his pitch count is high by the later innings, and Brundage has to bring in a reliever.

``Not too many times I'm gonna have a pitcher throw a complete game,'' Brundage said.