IN THE CLUTCH, JETHAWKS BATS STUCK IN NEUTRAL.Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer LAKE ELSINORE - Hitting with runners in scoring position In the sport of baseball, a baserunner is said to be in scoring position when he is on second or third base. The distinction between being on first base and second or third base is that a runner on first can usually only score if the batter hits an extra base hit, while a runner on has been an area in which the JetHawks had excelled for most of the season. But an area in which they have recently failed. Going into Monday, the JetHawks were 8 for their last 46 with runners in scoring position, including going 1 for 13 in that category in a 4-0 victory Sunday over Lake Elsinore. Lancaster is batting .297 (327 for 1,101) with runners in scoring position for the season. ``I think we're pressing a little bit,'' said JetHawks outfielder Jarred Ball, whose two-run triple in the second inning in·ning n. 1. a. Baseball One of nine divisions or periods of a regulation game, in which each team has a turn at bat as limited by three outs. b. innings (used with a sing. was their only hit with runners in scoring position Sunday. ``We've been making a point to try to get better at it and I know I've been putting a little more pressure on myself to try to get it done, so maybe a couple of other guys are doing that too,'' Ball said. JetHawks manager Wally Backman suicide squeeze play squeeze play - a baseball play in which a runner on third base tries to score as the batter bunts the pitch attempt with one out in the seventh inning of a two-run game. ``The situational hitting has been terrible,'' Backman said. ``It's definitely something we're going to have to work on.'' Backman pointed out that the team's best situational hitters, and who's numbers figure in the team's overall batting average with runners in scoring position Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position (abbreviated BA/RISP or BA/RSP) is a baseball statistic derived by dividing a players hits with runners on second or third base by his at bats with runners in scoring position. , are no longer on the team. The 12 JetHawks who were either promoted, demoted or on rehab assignments with the team batted a combined .326 with runners in scoring position. The current JetHawks are batting .275 (176 for 638). ``We've got a lot of new guys and we've got to teach them some new things to make them better,'' Backman said. --Addition: The addition of outfielder Reggie Abercrombie Reginald Demascus Abercrombie (born July 15, 1980 in Columbus, Georgia) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Houston Astros. Reggie graduated from Columbus High School. , acquired by the parent Arizona Diamondbacks This article is about the baseball team. For other uses, see Diamondback. The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a Major League Baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the West Division of the National League. in a deal that sent center fielder Steve Finley Steven Allen Finley (born March 12 1965, in Union City, Tennessee) is a Major League Baseball center fielder who bats and throws left-handed. He currently is a free agent, and has been working out on a regular basis since his release, hopeful a call will come from a team looking to the Dodgers, figures to improve a team that already has one the best records in minor league baseball
Abercrombie, a 24-year-old five-tool power prospect who was expected to report with the team Monday in Lake Elsinore, is tentatively slated to be the team's starting center fielder, and should bat in the middle of the order. The addition of Abercrombie means Backman will have to rotate a five- man outfield that features Ball, Jon Zeringue, Doc Brooks and Jay Garthwaite. ``It definitely gives us the best outfield in the league,'' Backman said. ``We have three guys (Abercrombie, Ball and Zeringue) who have great arms, and I think it makes us a better team.'' --The imperfect Storm: Lake Elsinore committed four errors Sunday, extending its streak of games in which it has committed an error to 14. The Storm leads the league with 149 errors. --Also: JetHawks pitcher Enrique Gonzalez (11-5) moved into a tie for the league lead in victories Sunday when he pitched seven shutout innings INNINGS, estates. Lands gained from the sea by draining. Cunn. L. Dict. h. t.; Law of Sewers, 31. of three-hit ball, combining with three relievers for a five-hitter. He has emerged as the league's hottest pitcher with victories in seven consecutive starts and eight of his past nine. ... The JetHawks' staff didn't allow a Storm base runner to reach third Sunday. ... Garthwaite went 0 for 2 with a walk and a sacrifice Sunday, ending his 13-game hitting streak In baseball, a hitting streak refers to the consecutive number of official games in which a player gets at least one base hit. Games in which a player does not have any official at bats due to walks, or sacrifice bunts, or being hit by a pitch, are ignored (neither break the streak . He reached in a two-run ninth when Storm catcher Andres Pagan misplayed his sacrifice bunt. Gideon Rubin (818)713-3607 gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: With many new faces in the clubhouse, such as that of infielder Steve Garrabrants, the Jethawks are struggling to drive-in runners in scoring position. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion