JetHawks’ 7-2 Victory Is a Rerun

Ken Cloude pitches. JetHawks score a bunch of runs. JetHawks win. Film at 11.

Yawn.

This program has been on before. For Cloude’s fourth consecutive start, the right-hander rode a wave of runs and was efficient on the mound. The only difference was, Cloude didn’t need help.

He pitched the JetHawks’ first nine-inning complete game of the season, beating the San Bernardino Stampede, 7-2, on Friday night before 5,306 at the Hangar.

In the ping-pong Southern Division of the California League, the JetHawks (32-29) bounced into a first-place tie with Rancho Cucamonga for the second time in three nights when the Quakes lost to the Visalia Oaks, 5-3.

Cloude (7-2), one of the JetHawks’ four All-Star game selections, won his fifth consecutive decision. In the past four games he has started, the JetHawks have averaged more than 11 runs. Cloude has had a 1.92 earned-run average in those games.

He needed just 103 pitches to beat the Stampede. He retired the side in order six times, including the ninth inning, and he needed 10 or fewer pitches to do it five times. Cloude pitched a four-hitter with one walk and eight strikeouts.

“It was an outstanding performance,” Manager Dave Brundage said. “I won’t have a pitcher throw a complete game very often, but when it happens, it’s got to be the right time.”

Cloude fell behind, 1-0, in the fifth when Scott Richardson reached base on an error by third baseman Luis Figueroa and scored on a single by Rafael Gross.

In the bottom of the inning, the JetHawks put the game away with six unearned runs, combining five hits with two Stampede errors.

Mike Lanza and Marcus Sturdivant started it off with singles. Shane Monahan dropped a sacrifice down the third-base line. San Bernardino pitcher Dennis Reyes fielded the ball and tried to throw out Lanza at third but threw the ball into foul territory, allowing Lanza and Sturdivant to score.

Jason Cook had his hitting streak stopped at 13 games but made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly. Figueroa hit a two-run triple and Shawn Buhner doubled in the sixth run.

“It’s a whole lot easier to pitch with this kind of run support,” Cloude said. “All you have to do is keep it down the middle.”

JetHawks 7, San Bernardino 2

San Bernardino: 000 010 010 -- 2 4 3

JetHawks: 000 061 000 -- 7 10 1

Reyes, Keppen (6) and Cooney; Cloude and Sealy.

W--Cloude (7-2).L--Reyes (4-6).

2B: SB--Gross; J--Buhner 2. 3B: J--Figueroa.

Records: San Bernardino 30-31; JetHawks 32-29.

* JETHAWKS REPORT: C15