JETHAWK REPORT : Cook’s Negative X-Rays a Positive

X-rays on Jason Cook’s left elbow were negative after he was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s game. The test results were fortunate for the JetHawks, considering how bad the injury looked.

Cook writhed in pain as he rolled around on the field.

“It’s probably the most pain baseball-wise that I’ve ever been in,” Cook said. “At first it kind of stunned me, but after that the real pain settled in. The pain almost overwhelmed me for a second.”

That Cook was hit by a pitch was no surprise. He has been hit 16 times this season.

“I guess if one out of 16 hit by pitches takes you to the hospital that’s not a bad ratio,” said Cook, who is expected to be out four or five days.

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Marino Santana’s fastball was the difference in Tuesday night’s seven-inning, one-run performance that broke a five-game losing streak.

“I think the hitters were looking for a lot of breaking pitches, and I threw them some fastballs,” Santana said. “It was something different.”

Santana, reluctant to throw his fastball at times this season, started most hitters with inside fastballs, worrying more about putting the thought in their heads than getting a strike. It worked.

“I’ve been telling him he’s got a good fastball,” pitching coach Juan Eichelberger said. “He throws it 87-89 [mph] and he’s got two major league breaking pitches. You just have to establish yourself with the fastball. The guys are going to be sitting on the two breaking pitches.”

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Tonight’s Game: JetHawks (Greg Wooten, 6-3, 3.98) at High Desert (Greg Dean, 10-5, 3.69), 7:05.