JETHAWKS REPORT : Buhner Serves Up Half-Brau

At Municipal Stadium, the San Jose Giants run a promotion in which one opposing hitter every night is selected to be the “beer batter.” Every time that batter strikes out in the first six innings, beer is half price for the next 15 minutes.

First baseman Shawn Buhner of the Lancaster JetHawks was picked Wednesday night.

“Awesome,” Buhner said. “It’s just because my brother [Mariner outfielder Jay] struck out four times today.”

Buhner struck out twice through the sixth inning.

Manager Dave Brundage was glad to hear Jose Cruz say Tuesday he is going for average, not home runs, this season.

That night, he had the first four-hit game of his pro career.

“It was nice to hear,” Brundage said. “Last year he was just swinging with maximum effort every time up there. It was like he was trying to show everyone how far he could hit the ball.”

Last season at Riverside, Cruz hit seven homers in 35 games, but he batted .257 and struck out 50 times in 144 at-bats. Through Tuesday, Cruz was hitting .444 with no homers and four strikeouts in 27 at-bats.

Through Tuesday night’s games, three of the top six hitters in the Cal League were Valley-area players. Del Marine (Visalia) from El Camino Real High and Moorpark College was hitting .556. David Lamb (High Desert) of Newbury Park High was third at .455. Ty Van Burkleo (Lake Elsinore) of Chatsworth High was tied for fifth at .421.

Brundage rested two of his hottest hitters on Wednesday, shortstop Luis Molina and outfielder Marcus Sturdivant. . . . Brundage started third catcher Andy Augustine, the only JetHawk not to appear in the first six games. . . . Bobby Bonds Jr. is on the San Jose Giants’ roster.

Tonight’s game:

JetHawks (Ken Cloude, 0-0) at San Jose (Joe Fontenot, 0-0), 7:15.