JETHAWKS NOTEBOOK: POOR DEFENSE, WALKS CONCERN.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO - In many respects, the JetHawks played some of their best baseball Tuesday in a 9-6 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers.

The JetHawks, who have been abysmal with runners in scoring position, were 7 for 14 in those situations. They had two sacrifice flies, a sacrifice bunt and hit for the cycle in a six-run, third-inning rally highlighted by Miguel Montero's team-leading third homer - a two-run shot to right.

As encouraging as that might have been, JetHawks manager Bill Plummer viewed the team's shoddy defense - a season-high four errors for a second consecutive game - and seven walks as causes for concern.

So, after the victory, he called a clubhouse meeting he originally planned to hold before the game. He canceled the pregame meeting because the team bus had a flat tire on the way to Arrowhead Credit Union Park, delaying its arrival by about an hour and a half.

``Seven walks and four errors ... that's not a good combination,'' Plummer said. ``We won, but we didn't play very well.''

Plummer said he was troubled by his team's lethargic play and that players appeared to be taking their hitting difficulties onto the field. He said players acted as if ``they were surprised that the ball was hit to them.''

``I told them they have to start having fun,'' Plummer said. ``Everybody's worried about themselves. You've got to have some fun and stop worrying about everything. Just do the things you're capable of, and everything will be OK.''

--Done that: JetHawks pitcher Chad Scarbery said he wasn't intimidated facing rehabilitating Seattle Mariners infielder Pokey Reese on Tuesday.

Scarbery struck out Reese swinging in the bottom of the first. Reese, who was 2 for 4 with two walks, reached on an infield error off Scarbery in the third and drew a one-out walk off the JetHawks' starter in the fifth.

``I've done it before,'' Scarbery said of pitching to major-league players. Scarbery pitched to several major-leaguers on rehab assignments in 2003 during a stint with Triple-A Tucson (Ariz.), including Angels outfielder Darin Erstad.

``It's fun getting him out, but it's really just another batter,'' Scarbery said. ``I expect to be in the big leagues, too.''

--Support: Scarbery (1-2) allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits in five innings Tuesday.

The JetHawks' offense combined for two runs in his previous two starts.

``That's going to happen,'' Scarbery said, ``but there's going to be times where I'm going to give up five or six runs in a win and they'll score 10 for me. ... It all evens out in the end.''

--Also: JetHawks center fielder Lino Garcia left the game in the sixth inning Tuesday after suffering a hamstring injury diving into third base. His status for the next week is questionable, pending a medical examination. His short-term replacement would be Jay Garthwaite. ... Reliever Ryan Holsten was released. Replacing him on the JetHawks roster was right-handed reliever Chris Thompson. Thompson, the hardest-throwing reliever in the JetHawks bullpen, according to Plummer, allowed one run on two hits in two innings in his JetHawks debut Tuesday.

Gideon Rubin, [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

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(color) BILL PLUMMER

JetHawks manager called team meeting to address porous defense and walks.