JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: JETHAWKS READY TO DEAL ACE GONZALEZ TO START TONIGHT IN GAME 5 IF IT IS NECESSARY.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO - Enrique Gonzalez's subpar outing in the Southern Division championship series opener might come back to haunt Inland Empire.

Gonzalez had his worst start in three months, allowing four runs on six hits in four innings Saturday. The JetHawks' ace pitcher threw just 70 pitches. What that means is that if the JetHawks need him to start a series- deciding Game 5 tonight, he should be well rested.

``It made it easy for us to take him out of that game so he could pitch Game 5,'' said JetHawks manager Wally Backman, whose decision to employ a four-man rotation for the division series hinged on Gonzalez's Game 5 availability.

The JetHawks took a 2-1 series lead on Monday with a 9-5 victor, and had a chance to close out the series Tuesday at Inland Empire.

Gonzalez emerged as one of the minor leagues' hottest pitchers after moving into the starting rotation in early June, going 10-2 with a 2.03 ERA in his last 15 starts.

And, despite his un-Gonzalez-like performance Saturday, Backman's confidence in his ace is unwavering.

If Gonzalez isn't needed tonight, he'll start Game 1 of the California League championship series on Thursday, which will be played on the road against the winner of Northern Division championship series between Modesto and San Jose. Modesto led the series 2-1 going into Tuesday.

``I'm not too concerned about (Gonzalez) at all,'' Backman said. ``If he pitches Game 5, he's lights out. I'll say that.''

--By the numbers: Backman has publicly acknowledged relying heavily on playing the percentages throughout the playoffs. He enlisted a JetHawks media relations intern to compile individualized head-to-head stats that are almost unheard of in the minor leagues.

Backman's reliance on situational stats probably baffles the average fan - or anyone not privy to his matchup charts - who wonders why right-handed relievers replace right-handed relievers who seem to be doing just fine.

His players have apparently bought into the idea.

``If he does things differently from everybody else and it puts wins on the board then I'm all for it,'' JetHawks reliever Sam Smith said.

--Like a pro: Outfielder Jay Garthwaite, who wasn't developed as a corner infielder until the last two weeks of the regular season, has shined in that role in the playoffs, playing an adequate third base Saturday and making several excellent scoops on balls in the dirt at first base Monday.

His bat has been one of the series' biggest stories. Going into Tuesday, he was batting .429 (3 for 7) including a two-run homer in a three-run first inning Monday.

``It's tough when you have five outfielders and you can't play them all,'' Backman said, ``but he's handled it like a professional and he's done a great job.''

--Silva is golden: Jesus Silva was inconsistent as a starter during the regular season, but he's been dominant out of the bullpen in the postseason. Silva pitched 2 1/3 innings of shutout relief to notch a save Monday. He inherited a bases-loaded, two-out situation when he entered an 8-5 game in the seventh and struck out the hot-hitting Wladamir Balentin to end the threat.

Silva has three strikeouts and has allowed one walk in 3 2/3 shutout innings of no-hit ball in the series. The JetHawks' team ERA balloons from 5.00 to 5.79 if you take out Silva's numbers.

Backman said he's been impressed with Silva's aggressiveness in the series, and wishes others on the staff would take notice at Silva's propensity for ``attacking the (strike) zone.''

``He's already proven that he can close,'' Backman said. ``When he keeps his emotion up and his adrenaline flowing, he can get a lot of people out.''

--Quality starts?: Postseason baseball is usually decided by pitching, but that hasn't been the case through the first three games of the Southern Division championship series, or the entire postseason for that matter.

No pitcher has had a quality start in the Southern Division series (A.J. Shappi came closest, allowing three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in Sunday's 6-4 Game 2 victory for the JetHawks).

--Also: The JetHawks became the first team in five playoff games to score on Inland Empire first in Monday's game. ... Lancaster ended a six-game postseason losing streak going back to 2000 and snapped Inland Empire's eight-game playoff winning streak, going back to last season, on Sunday.

Gideon Rubin [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

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JetHawks pitcher Enrique Gonzalez might have struggled in the playoff series opener against Inland Empire, but the ace will be ready to go if needed tonight.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer