Loss Puts Upcoming Series in New Light

The JetHawks’ upcoming series against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes just got a little more critical.

With the JetHawks’ 6-3, 10-inning loss to the San Bernardino Stampede on Sunday before 5,262 fans at Lancaster Municipal Stadium, the team fell one game behind the Quakes in the California League Southern Division race with a week to go.

The Quakes begin a four-game series in Lancaster tonight at 7:15.

“You’d like to go in even,” JetHawk Manager Dave Brundage said, “so in the event that you split you are still even . . . Needless to say, [tonight’s] game is the most important of the season.”

The JetHawks (33-30) rallied to tie Sunday’s game when Luis Figueroa doubled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to score Jason Cook. They then nearly won when James Clifford reached on a throwing error by San Bernardino shortstop Ken Morimoto, and Adonis Harrison, pinch-running for Figueroa, tried to score from second on the play. He was thrown out at the plate, sending the game to extra innings.

“I was probably a little too aggressive,” Brundage said of sending Harrison. “It’s not the smartest call I’ve made all season. But things had been going our way. That came to a halt.”

Figueroa’s hit may have temporarily saved his spot with the JetHawks. Third baseman Carlos Villalobos is to come off the disabled list today. Instead of sending Figueroa, a third baseman, back to extended spring training to make room for Villalobos, the parent Seattle Mariners opted to send pitcher Clint Gould to triple-A Tacoma, Wash.

San Bernardino scored three runs in the top of the 10th to win. Rafael Gross led off with a single and took second on a sacrifice. Eddie Davis then singled off John Daniels (2-3) to drive in a run. After an out and an intentional walk, Chad Townsend singled to drive in a run and Scott Richardson drove in another with a double.

The JetHawks, who were held hitless for five innings and finished with only four hits, managed only Marcus Sturdivant’s walk in the bottom of the 10th.