JetHawks Not Letter Perfect but Win, 12-5

Two M’s can overcome six E’s.

The JetHawks’ M&M; boys, outfielders Shane Monahan and Jesus Marquez, did most of the damage in a 12-5 victory over the Stockton Ports on Saturday night before 5,009 at the Hangar.

Monahan hit two homers and drove in four runs. Marquez homered, tripled and drove in five runs. They made the JetHawks’ six errors not seem so bad.

Marquez leads the JetHawks with 68 runs batted in and is tied for the lead with 12 home runs. He’s batting .316. He extended his hitting streak to 11 games and has hit safely in 16 of 18 games in the second half.

“Jesus has really settled into the No. 3 hole,” JetHawk Manager Dave Brundage said. “He has stepped up and assumed the role as our RBI guy.”

Monahan has hit in nine consecutive games, going 16 for 42 (.381) with six home runs and 15 RBIs. He’s closing in on Marquez with 11 homers and 64 RBIs.

Monahan’s homers provided the first and last runs for the JetHawks. Marquez’s hits drove in five in the middle, including a two-run triple that put the JetHawks ahead for good, 4-2, in the fifth.

“I feel pitiful hitting between those guys,” said No. 2 hitter Jason Cook. “They’re hitting all the bombs, I’m just getting the singles. I try to get on base and I’m pretty much guaranteed of getting in.”

Shawn Buhner added two hits, including his third homer, and Jason Cook had three singles for the JetHawks (11-7), who took two in a row from Stockton after losing the first seven meetings.

Fortunately, the JetHawks were able to do more damage to the Ports with their bats than they inflicted upon themselves with their gloves. The six errors were a season high and they tarnished an otherwise strong outing by starting pitcher Marino Santana.

Although he was not charged with any earned runs, the extra pitches Santana threw in the error-extended innings pushed him to his pitch-limit after six innings. He allowed six hits while striking out four and walking none.

Santana (7-9) held a 2-0 lead with two out in the fifth when Dan Klassen’s routine fly fell between center fielder Monahan and right fielder Marquez. Two singles later, the Ports tied the score, 2-2.

After Marquez single-handedly rebuilt the JetHawk lead, the Ports kept coming, scoring twice in the eighth against Todd Niemeier.

John Thompson, who blew a two-run lead in the ninth Thursday against the Ports, halted the rally and got his ninth save.

JetHawks 12, Stockton 5

Stockton: 000 020 120 -- 5 12 0

JetHawks: 110 030 340 -- 12 17 6

Wagner, Drysdale (7), Salazar (8) and Reynolds; Santana, Szimanski (7), Niemeier (7), Thompson (8) and Wathan.

W--Santana (7-9).L--Wagner (6-3).S--Thompson (9).

2B: S--DeBerry, Krause, Tyler; J--Buhner.3B:J--Marquez.HR:J--Monahan 2 (11), Marquez (12), Buhner (3).

Records: Stockton 9-9; JetHawks 11-7.