JETHAWKS CONTINUE TO PERSEVERE.Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer LANCASTER - They stranded too many runners. Their starting pitcher Noun 1. starting pitcher - (baseball) a pitcher who starts in a baseball game baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; was erratic. Their reliable closer was mortal. But the JetHawks celebrated not only Craig Kuzmic's 23rd birthday but a victory late Tuesday night. The JetHawks' 7-6 win in 10 innings over the Bakersfield Blaze The Bakersfield Blaze are a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California, USA. They are a "high-A" class team in the California League, and are a farm team of the Texas Rangers. The Bakersfield Blaze play home games at Sam Lynn Ballpark. was a study in resiliency. ``I just think we hung in there and battled. It's a good win for us; we played all (10 innings),'' said outfielder Terrmel Sledge Terrmel Sledge (born March 18, 1977 in Fayetteville, North Carolina) is a Major League Baseball player for the San Diego Padres. Sledge is an outfielder whose career began in 2004 with the Montreal Expos. , whose RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in single scored Robert Gandolfo with the game-winner. The JetHawks trailed 4-0 in the second inning and 5-2 after the fourth when starter Enmanuel Ulloa struggled with his location. The right-hander also allowed two home runs. Gandolfo's two throwing errors on one play resulted in an unearned run in the first. Manager Mark Parent wasn't angry about the home runs or the errors. ``It's walks, mental errors, not hustling, not going about your business, that's what I have a problem with,'' Parent said. ``I've got no problem with (Gandolfo's) errors. Like I've said, I have no problems with guys trying to make plays but make errors.'' Kuzmic's pinch-hit three-run homer in the eighth gave the JetHawks a 6-5 lead that was squandered squan·der tr.v. squan·dered, squan·der·ing, squan·ders 1. To spend wastefully or extravagantly; dissipate. See Synonyms at waste. 2. by Parker, who yielded a home run to leadoff batter Carlos Valderrama Carlos Valderrama is a common personal name that can refer to different people:
Parker, a former starter, has a California League-leading seven saves. ``It's more of a mental thing in that position. He's a good fit for (a closer),'' Parent said. ``Hopefully, this will just run off his back like water.'' The Bakersfield pitchers were giving the JetHawks scoring chances in nearly every inning. But by the time the game went to extra innings Noun 1. extra innings - overtime play until one team is ahead at the end of an inning; e.g. baseball extra time, overtime - playing time beyond regulation, to break a tie , 11 runners were left on base. The bullpen, outside of Parker's one mistake, kept the JetHawks in contention. Neil Longo tossed three scoreless innings and winning pitcher Cody Morrison pitched the 10th. ``Anytime you can grind it out and just win, it gives you a lot of confidence for the next time it comes around,'' said Morrison, now 2-1. The JetHawks have been the Cal League's most consistent team until losing seven of 10. Tuesday ran a new winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" to five to improve their record to 17-9. ``It was good that we came back and answered back again. I'm glad we came back out there and started swinging the bats right after,'' Kuzmic said. --Oh what a relief it is: The Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Mariners have played in Safeco Field. could have an abundance of effective closers if the results of April continue. The first Rolaids Relief Man closer of the month awards were handed out to each league in the minors. Pitchers are awarded three points for saves and two points for wins and lose two points for a loss. Not only did the JetHawks' Parker win the Cal League honor, Tacoma's Todd Williams Todd Michael Williams (born February 13, 1971) is a relief pitcher free agent. He attended Onondaga Community College. He was released by the Orioles 15 June 2007. He signed with the Colorado Rockies and is pitching for their AA affiliate, the Tulsa Drillers. (seven saves in April) was the Triple-A Pacific Coast League For the high school sports league, see . The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a minor league baseball league operating in the West and Midwest of the United States. It is one of two leagues, along with the International League, playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below recipient. Former JetHawk Kevin Gryboski Kevin John Gryboski (born November 15, 1973 in Wilkes-Barre, PA, U.S.), is a Major League Baseball player with the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League. Gryboski, a right-handed pitcher, was acquired by the Atlanta Braves in January 2002 and traded to Texas in July of 2005 for (six saves) finished second to Binghamton's Corey Brittan in the Double-A Eastern League. Corey Avrard of Double-A Arkansas, a member of last season's Lancaster Stealth of the California Fall League, was the Texas League's top closer. The JetHawks look at Parker's blown save Tuesday as just a temporary setback. ``With all our pitchers, they're doing the job. Parker goes in there and throws hard,'' Sledge said. ``It was just a fluke. (Rodriguez's) home run was a fly ball in most parks, but that's what happens.'' --Coming out of his shell: Hitting coach Dana Williams is confident slumping JetHawks first baseman Peanut Williams Patrick "Peanut" Dion Williams (born October 3, 1977) is a professional baseball player currently on the Orange County Flyers of the Golden Baseball League. He plays primarily first base, but also some designated hitter and the corner outfield spots. will break out of his slump with one big performance. Williams was sensational in half a season in Lancaster in 1999. The 22-year-old Nacogdoches, Texas, native had 26 home runs in 272 at-bats after the all-star break. Williams isn't expected to match that pace all the time, but he's homered just three times in 88 at-bats while hitting .216. Williams was 0 for 5 with three strikeouts Tuesday. ``He had a great at-bat tonight . . . when he fouled off like four or five pitches. When you're going through a little slump, things like that seem to help,'' Dana Williams said. ``So hopefully he got a positive out of that like we all did and come out tomorrow, get his knocks and take off.'' --Stay in ranks: The JetHawks remained second behind the Clearwater Phillies of the Florida State League The Florida State League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the state of Florida. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth step in Baseball America's Single-A weekly power rankings. --Alumni report: Joe Mays, who played in Lancaster in 1997 but was traded to the Minnesota Twins, made a solid debut (6-11, 4.37 ERA) at the big-league level last season. While the low-budget Twins are playing respectable baseball (11-16), Mays is struggling at 0-4 with a 7.59 ERA. He made some progress Tuesday in a 5-4 loss to his old team, the Mariners. Mays labored but took a shutout into the sixth when he fell apart, walking John Olerud and allowing two-out singles to Mike Cameron, David Belland Carlos Guillen. Mays was charged with four earned runs on seven hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color -- ran in Simi edition only) Manager Mark Parent of the JetHawks likes how his team continues to hustle. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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