JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: JETHAWKS HAVE ACE IN GONZALEZ.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LANCASTER - In less than two months, Enrique Gonzalez has gone from converted reliever to staff ace.

Considering his stuff, Gonzalez's repertoire includes a fastball that's been clocked at 98 mph, his emergence isn't a complete surprise.

Since moving to the starting rotation in early June, Gonzalez, a 22-year-old native of Venezuela, is 7-1 with a 3.25 ERA and has won six consecutive starts.

Gonzalez is in his fourth season in Single-A and in his second stint at Lancaster. He pitched briefly for the JetHawks in 2002.

``You could see him coming,'' JetHawks manager Wally Backman said. ``You could tell he was going to be good, but he's shown me and our staff that he has big-league stuff.''

He had his best outing in Tuesday's 7-2 victory over Lake Elsinore, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out six in a season-high eight innings.

``That's the best I've seen him throw,'' Backman said. ``He's had some great outings, but tonight the way he located his pitches he looked like a major-league pitcher out there.''

In addition to a fastball and a curveball that are both above average by major-league standards, Gonzalez has developed an above average slider this season under the tutelage of pitching coach Dan Carlson and an average changeup that Backman figures will eventually become better.

Gonzalez was 3-4 with a 5.45 ERA as a reliever before taking Keith Whatley's spot in the rotation. After lasting a total of 8 1/3 innings in his first two starts, he's gone at least seven innings in four of his past eight outings and at least six innings in seven of those starts.

Crucial to his success as a starter has been better command of his breaking pitches, an area in which he's made tremendous strides in recent outings, and his willingness to throw them in fastball counts.

In his past two starts, Gonzalez hasn't allowed an earned run in 14 innings. In his past three starts, he's struck out 14 and hasn't issued a walk in 21 innings.

``He's just been lights out,'' Backman said. ``As we speak right now, he absolutely is our (staff) ace.''

--Emotion: After he was struck in the forearm by a line drive July 20 against Rancho Cucamonga, JetHawks pitcher Adam Bass was angry about the incident more than concerned about his health.

When he saw Carlson and trainer Adam Weyer jump out of the JetHawks dugout to check on him, a disgusted Bass slammed the ball into the mound.

``It was just one of those things where I got a little caught up in emotion,'' Bass said, ``I was (upset) because he hit a line drive off me.''

Although the area on his forearm stung a bit, he figured there was no serious injury because he could still squeeze the ball.

He was fortunate to get his arm up in the way of the line drive, which came off the bat of Quakes outfielder B.J. Weed in the second inning.

``It probably would have hit me in the mouth if I hadn't put my arm up,'' Bass said.

Bass suffered only a minor bruise and stayed in the game through the fifth inning to get the win. Bass (7-6) allowed six runs, three earned, on 10 hits and four walks.

--Also: Tuesday's victory over Lake Elsinore was the JetHawks' third consecutive win, their sixth in seven games and fourth in a row at home against the Storm. ... Jarred Ball was 0 for 3 Tuesday, snapping his hitting streak at a season-high 16-games - the second-longest streak by a JetHawks player this season. ... Jay Garthwaite's three-run homer in the sixth broke open a 4-0 game and extended his hitting streak to nine games. Since joining the team June 21, Garthwaite is batting .322 (37 for 115) with six homers, 22 RBI with a .591 slugging percentage. ... The JetHawks played errorless ball Tuesday for the first time in 17 games.

Gideon Rubin [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com