JETHAWKS REPORT : Cruz Recovery: Not So Fast

Jose Cruz Jr.’s exuberance has cost him.

Cruz, the JetHawks’ star outfielder, apparently came back from a strained groin injury too soon and suffered a setback Thursday night in his recovery. Cruz, who missed four games before Thursday, is now expected to miss five more.

“I just wasn’t ready,” said Cruz, who solemnly stood outside the clubhouse and stared at an empty field after Thursday’s game.

“His heart told him he was ready to play but his body wasn’t,” Manager Dave Brundage said.

Cruz was kept out of all activities--batting practice, running, throwing, even hitting fungoes--Friday.

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There was some good news on other injuries, though.

First baseman James Clifford, who was hit by a pitch on the left wrist Thursday, was scheduled to have X-rays taken Friday. However, the swelling had subsided Friday morning and he was in the lineup as the designated hitter.

Second baseman Jason Cook was taken to the hospital Friday afternoon for X-rays on his left leg, which had developed lumps where he fouled a ball off his calf about a week ago. X-rays were negative. The lumps are from normal blood pooling, trainer Rob Nodine said. Cook could have played Friday but was out of the starting lineup.

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Brundage, on the JetHawk game Thursday night against the San Bernardino Stampede, in which Lancaster rallied from a 10-3 deficit to within 10-9 before losing, 12-9: “We kept pecking away, but then they pecked back.”

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Tonight’s Game:

JetHawks (Brett Hinchliffe, 3-0, 4.13) at Rancho Cucamonga (Shane Dennis, 2-2, 4.65), 7:15.