(SAN JOSE, CA) - The Lancaster JetHawks are in the midst on a ten-game road trip that will determine their postseason fate. With Sunday's 4-1 loss to the San Jose Giants, the JetHawks have now lost the first seven games on the trip and essentially knocked themselves out of postseason contention. Heading into the last week, the JetHawks sit seven games out of the final wild card spot with seven ballgames to play. A club that has fought so valiantly throughout the entire 2009 campaign, the 10-game jaunt to the homes of the two division winners in the first half of the California League came at the wrong time. Sunday in San Jose, the strain of such a long trip began to show, as sloppy defense was the main culprit in the JetHawks' defeat. The JetHawks had their best scoring chance of the game in the first inning. A Jon Gaston single and Koby Clemens' 42nd double of the season put runners at second and third, but Lancaster could not convert. The Giants, meanwhile, made the most of some spotty defense. With two outs, starter Chris Salamida got a ground ball that would have ended the inning. An error allowed David Maroul to score and put the Giants in front. Lancaster fought back in the fifth to tie the game. Jordan Comadena doubled to lead off the frame and advanced to third on a perfectly executed bunt by Andy Simunic. After J.B. Shuck walked, Ebert Rosario drove a two-strike pitch into right field and the game was deadlocked. Maroul wasted no time in seizing the lead back for the Giants in the sixth, hitting a home run to center to open the inning. The ballgame turned for good in the seventh inning. Tyler Graham reached on an error by Ebert Rosario. He then stole second base; Darren Ford laid down a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed by Salamida, and the Giants had runners at the corners with no outs. Salamida got a huge out when Brian Bocock flied out to center, before he was pulled from the game. The bullpen did its job behind Salamida, but again the defense did not fall in line. Phil Rummel got a ground ball from Thomas Neal to Rosario, who threw Graham out at home for the second out. Patrick Urckfitz was then summoned, and he got a lazy popup to left field from Roger Kieschnick. But Koby Clemens lost his footing in left, and the ball fell in for a two-run double. The Giants bullpen took it from there; Wilmin Rodriguez tossed his third scoreless inning of the series before Rafael Cova shut the JetHawks down in the ninth. The JetHawks have on off day tomorrow before returning to Adelanto for a three game series. Tuesday at 7:05 PM, Shane Wolf will take the ball against Michael Pineda. The radio broadcast can be heard live on Magic 1340 AM and online at www.JetHawks.com beginning at 6:50.
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