JETHAWKS RIGHT FIELDER KEEPS FOCUS, MAINTAINS HITTING STREAK.

Byline: Kathy Orton Daily News Staff Writer

There amid all the hoopla of Friday night's game against Rancho Cucamonga, Lancaster JetHawks right fielder Jesus Marquez quietly had another productive outing.

The 23-year-old Caracas, Venezuela, native safely hit in his 13th consecutive game, going 2 for 3 for the night. The JetHawks defeated Rancho Cucamonga 3-2 to maintain a tie for first place with Lake Elsinore in the California League-Southern Division.

But just as the crowd wasn't giving much thought to his accomplishment Friday night, neither was Marquez.

``I'm trying not to think about it,'' Marquez said through an interpreter. ``I don't want to lose my focus.''

According to Marquez, he hasn't made any changes in his technique at the plate. What he was doing before the streak is exactly what he has been doing during it. That consistency has earned him the cleanup spot in the order over teammates with better batting averages.

Marquez, a left-handed hitter, was batting .328 after Friday's game. His RBI single with two outs in the sixth inning tied the score at one apiece. He later scored the go-ahead run off a single by Carlos Villalobos when the Quakes right fielder committed an error on the throw to the infield.

``I was just trying to put the ball in play,'' Marquez said.

The win Friday was especially meaningful to the JetHawks (15-7) after they had lost to Lake Elsinore on Thursday. Lancaster blew a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning to lose the game. A win would have given them sole possession of first place.

``Especially after last night, it was a pretty good win,'' Lancaster manager Dave Brundage said. ``It was good for the team's morale. To be in the same situation and get the job done, it was the nicest win for these guys. We've been in that situation four times this season and come out on the short end of the stick. (This win) shows me something.''

Rancho Cucamonga pitcher Ryan Van De Weg was trying to show Luis Molina something as well. In the seventh inning, after Van De Weg had given up a solo home run to the lead-off batter, Scott Sealy, Van De Weg threw a high inside fastball at Molina, brushing him back.

Immediately, Sealy charged out of the dugout toward the mound. He was restrained by three teammates as the benches cleared. The melee lasted a short time and no punches were thrown.

``He threw up and in at Luis,'' Sealy said. ``They shouldn't throw at him. If he wants to throw at someone, he should have thrown at me, not some poor innocent guy.''

With Lancaster being atop the Southern Division standings, Sealy and center fielder Marcus Sturdivant expected teams to try to intimidate them by throwing at JetHawks batters.

``If they want to play that kind of ball, we're ready for them,'' Sealy said.

Brundage also appeared riled over the incident.

``(Van De Weg) couldn't handle giving up a homer. Didn't want to be forgotten,'' Brundage said.

Extra bases: Jose Cruz Jr. who led the team, batting .383 entering Friday's game, went 0 for 4, striking out twice. . . . Starting pitcher Marino Santana (2-2) pitched 6-1/3 innings, scattering five hits, walking three and striking out eight. He gave up one earned run - a homer by Gary Matthews. His ERA now stands at 4.74. . . . Tom Szimanski gave up a run in the ninth inning, but struck out the final two batters to earn the save. . . . Friday night's all right with the JetHawks. They haven't lost a Friday night game this season.