Large Crowd Sees JetHawks Fight But Fall to Mavericks Again
Published on April 19, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
Lancaster JetHawks News Release
(LANCASTER, CA) In an unusual scheduling twist, the Lancaster JetHawks have played seven of their first ten games in this young 2009 season against the High Desert Mavericks. From the JetHawks' perspective, a new opponent cannot roll into town soon enough. The Mavericks continued their domination of the JetHawks, winning 4-2 in front of 3,013 fans Saturday night at the Hangar. High Desert has now won six of the seven contests against the JetHawks thus far.
Things looked good early for Lancaster, as the JetHawks got a much-improved start from David Duncan. Duncan controlled High Desert for the first four innings, and was staked to a 1-0 lead on a Craig Corrado RBI groundout in the third. Duncan was rock solid for his first four frames, commanding the strike zone and inducing a healthy dose of ground balls. In fact, nine of Duncan's first 12 recorded outs came in the form of groundouts.
Duncan struck out Ko Hui Lo to open the fifth inning, but ninth-place hitter Ron Garth homered on a shot to left field to tie the game. From there, things unraveled for the 6-foot-9 pitcher from New Richmond, Ohio.
Tyson Gillies reached on a perfectly placed bunt single to the right side, and scored on Juan Diaz's second double in as many nights. Two batters later Diaz scored the Mavericks' third run of the inning on an RBI single from Ian Bladergroen - the last hitter that Duncan would face.
Chia-Jen Lo continued his torrid run out of the bullpen, striking out Alex Liddi to end the fifth, then retiring the side in the sixth. In his last four and a third innings he has pitched, Lo has struck out a remarkable eleven batters.
Corrado had his third productive at bat in the seventh inning, reaching on a beautifully placed bunt single down the third base line. Corrado's intelligent play set up the matchup of the night. Top Astros hitting prospect Jason Castro strode into the batters' box, and Mavericks manager (and former JetHawk) Jim Horner summoned the top pitching prospect in the Seattle organization, Canadian Phillipe Aumont. On this night the duel that could easily be seen at Safeco Field or Minute Maid Park as soon as the 2010 season went to the Mavericks flame-throwing right hander as Castro flied out to deep left field.
The JetHawks would not go quietly into the night. With one down in the ninth trailing by two runs, Marcos Cabral singled to left field. After J.B. Shuck was retired, Corrado was pulled for Kobe Clemens in the hopes of tying the game with one swing - and Clemens very nearly delivered. The more than 3,000 fans in attendance for the first Saturday at the hangar held their breath as Clemens engaged in a ten-pitch battle with Steve Richard. On the tenth pitch, Clemens drilled a ball high and deep to left, but it was caught by Ko Hui Lo on the warning track to end the ballgame.
The series concludes Sunday at the Hangar on the first "Sunday in the Park" this season. Fans will be allowed onto the field prior to the game to enjoy the festivities, and can even bring a ball and glove to play catch. Shane Wolf (0-1) will start for Lancaster against High Desert ace Michael Pineda (1-1). The game will start at 7 PM with the radio coverage on Magic 1340 and online at JetHawks.com beginning with the Pre-Game Show at 6:45.
Great ticket packages, including season tickets and flexible mini-plans, are on sale now for the 2009 season and may be ordered by calling (661) 726-5400. For more information, please visit the JetHawks official website www.JetHawks.com.
California League Stories from April 19, 2009
- Bastardo Dominant as Sixers Snap Streak - Inland Empire 66ers
- Ports Lose Another Lead Late Against Giants - Stockton Ports
- 66ers Shutout Quakes 4-0 - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Crawford's 11th Inning Home Run Propels Giants To Victory - San Jose Giants
- Ports Drop Ninth Game in Extra Innings - Stockton Ports
- Large Crowd Sees JetHawks Fight But Fall to Mavericks Again - Lancaster JetHawks
- Rawhide Tie Record, Remain Undefeated - Visalia Rawhide
- Quakes Shutout 66ers 2-0 - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Sweeney Blasts Quakes Past Sixers - Inland Empire 66ers
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