JetHawks Meet, Turn Up Heat and Head for Home

Whatever was said during the Lancaster JetHawks’ brief team meeting outside their dugout before the sixth inning Monday night should be written down and saved for future reference.

The JetHawks went on to score 14 runs in the next three innings--five coming on a pair of James Clifford home runs--and they routed the High Desert Mavericks, 15-3, at Maverick Stadium.

The JetHawks finished their season-opening trip 8-4, averaging eight runs per game. They play their first game at home tonight against the Visalia Oaks.

The JetHawks, who lead the California League in hitting, had only two hits through five innings and trailed 2-1. Before batting in the sixth, the JetHawks held a quick meeting on the field, their first such gathering of the season.

Shane Monahan and Jose Cruz Jr. started the inning with back-to-back singles. Clifford then yanked an 0-and-2 pitch just inside the right-field foul pole for a three-run home run. He added a two-run home run in the eighth, giving him his second game of the season with 5 RBIs.

Clifford’s first homer opened the floodgates. The JetHawks scored another run on Jason Cook’s bloop double, taking a 5-2 lead.

In the seventh, Carlos Villalobos drove in three runs with a triple, Jesus Marquez drove in one with a sacrifice fly, and Mike Lanza and Marcus Sturdivant each singled in runs to push the lead to 11-2.

Clifford’s second homer made the score 13-3 in the eighth.

Villalobos, who had three hits, has hit in 11 consecutive games. A third baseman, he also made his eighth error in 12 games. Cruz and Monahan each extended hit streaks to 10 games.

JetHawks starting pitcher Marino Santana cruised through his best performance of the young season. Santana (1-1), who had a 5.63 earned-run average after two starts, pitched six innings and gave up two earned runs. He walked one batter and struck out three.

John Daniels pitched the final three innings to record a save.