JetHawks Ignite in Blaze of Hits

After needing late-inning heroics to win two of three games against the Modesto A’s last weekend, JetHawk players said they still wouldn’t feel like they did during their season-opening tear through the league until they started blowing out teams again.

This ought to do it.

The JetHawks scorched the hapless Bakersfield Blaze for a second consecutive night, winning 14-4 on Tuesday at the Hangar. The JetHawks beat the Blaze, 10-1, on Monday night.

“It feels pretty good for things to be back to normal,” said JetHawk Manager Dave Brundage. “I didn’t care much for that losing stuff.”

The JetHawks (26-27) are in a three-way tie for second place, 2 1/2 games behind the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the California League Southern Division with 17 games to play in the first half.

The JetHawks’ third victory in a row and fifth in six games must have reminded the announced crowd of 3,293 of April, when the club bolted to an 18-9 start on the strength of league-leading hitting and solid pitching.

“I think the attitude has come around,” said JetHawk third baseman Jason Cook. “There are a lot more smiles in the dugout and guys are relaxed. That’s the way we were early and that’s what we need to keep up.”

Of course, some of what has transpired the past two nights at the Hangar has to be attributed to the Blaze, who own a league-worst 15-37 record. It got so bad for Bakersfield that their most effective pitcher was a catcher, Todd Johnson, who relieved in the fifth.

“Usually when you play a team like that, you play to their level,” said JetHawk outfielder Shane Monahan. “But we’ve been playing to our level.”

For the second night in a row, the JetHawks fell behind, 1-0, before burying the Blaze.

The JetHawks’ four-run first inning was keyed by Cook’s three-run home run over the left-field fence. Cook’s third home run was his first since April 12 and gave him 14 hits in 25 at-bats.

The JetHawks added a pair of runs in the second when Jesus Marquez’s soft pop into shallow left field appeared to be lost in the lights by Bakersfield shortstop Craig Daedelow and left fielder Kyle Towner, falling for a hit.

Marquez had three hits, including a solo home run, his fourth.

In the fifth, Bakersfield reliever Christopher Bray walked the first three hitters before giving up Marcus Sturdivant’s single and Monahan’s three-run double off the top of the scoreboard in right field.

Ken Cloude (5-2) gained his third victory in a row.

JetHawks 14, Bakersfield 4

Bakersfield: 100 200 010 -- 4 7 3

JetHawks: 420 250 10x -- 14 11 1

Oldham, Bray (4), Johnson (5), Sellner (8) and Paxton; Cloude, Daniels (7) and Augustine.

W--Cloude (5-2).L--Oldham (1-5).

2B: B--Carroll; J--Harrison, Monahan.HR:B--Cabrera (2); J--Cook (3), Marquez (4).

Records: Bakersfield 15-37; JetHawks 26-27.