JETHAWKS CRUZ PAST THE BLAZE : JETHAWKS 15, BLAZE 6.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Daily News Staff Writer

As Cirilo Cruz's home run ball sailed over the left-field fence, it brought a smile to the faces of Cruz's dad, Tommy, and JetHawks manager Rick Burleson.

The California League's RBI leader bucked the trend of hitting the other way with a dead-pull two-run shot to highlight a 15-6 rout of the Bakersfield Blaze before a Sunday afternoon crowd of 3,253 at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

With Tommy Cruz, a Seattle Mariners minor-league hitting instructor, in the dugout, the younger Cruz came right back an inning later with another two-run shot. He has five on the year after hitting just one in three previous minor-league seasons.

The second homer cleared the fence in right field, where the right-handed-batting 22-year-old's hits usually travel.

``That was the first time for me to hit the ball to left,'' said Cruz, who increased his RBI total to 38. ``I always take the ball the other way. My dad told me I was trying too hard.''

Said Burleson: ``He's swinging a good bat right now. It was good to see him drop his head and pull the ball.''

MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT

Andy Dominique doubled his pleasure Saturday, when the Alemany High graduate hit two home runs in Single-A Piedmont's 11-8 South Atlantic League win at Savannah. Dominique, who played at the University of Nevada, drove in five runs on homers No. 6 and 7. He's batting .312 with 32 RBI.

Former UCLA and Crescenta Valley High standout Jim Parque was called up by the White Sox Sunday from Triple-A Calgary. The left-hander will make his major league debut Tuesday in a start against the New York Yankees. He was 2-3 with a 3.94 ERA in 48 innings with Calgary.

Saturday's top performers: David Skeels (Thousand Oaks) hit his first California League home run and knocked in four runs for Single-A Visalia. . . . Former JetHawk Greg Connors went 4 for 4 in Single-A Wisconsin's 6-4 win over Peoria. . . . John Snyder (Westlake) improved to 5-2 for Triple-A Calgary despite allowing four walks, five hits and three runs in six innings in a 12-4 win at Vancouver. . . . Benji Simonton (Pepperdine) homered for Single-A San Jose. . . . Chad Moeller (USC) homered twice with five RBI for Single-A Fort Myers. JetHawks alumnus Joe Mays was the winning pitcher in the Miracle's 12-2 victory, allowing just two runs in eight innings.

--- Chris Cocoles

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BOX: MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT (see text)