JetHawks Don’t Let the Quakes Slam Door

Still three games out with five to play, the JetHawks are about as likely to make the playoffs as Mike Lanza is to hit a grand slam, or Carlos Villalobos is to save a game with his arm.

Playoff hopes still look bleak despite a 7-6 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Tuesday night at the Epicenter, but at least the JetHawks are making it interesting.

Lanza, who had five home runs in his first 883 professional at-bats, hit a grand slam in his 884th.

Villalobos, who made most of his 42 errors at third base on throws, threw out a runner at the plate in his season debut in left field.

The heroics of Lanza and Villalobos were almost erased by reliever John Thompson, who gave up a run and had the bases loaded when he struck out Jamie Keefe to pick up his 13th save.

“My feeling in the ninth inning was we had it in the bag all the way,” JetHawk Manager Dave Brundage said with a smile.

But the JetHawks (33-32, 69-66 overall) remained three games behind Lake Elsinore, who won, and High Desert, who lost. The Storm and Mavericks are tied for the second-half title. If the playoffs started today, both would be in because one would be the wild-card team.

Lanza’s sixth-inning grand slam gave the JetHawks their first lead in a game they trailed, 3-0.

After the JetHawks took a 7-3 lead, the Quakes rallied with two runs in the eighth but Villalobos threw out Leroy McKinnis at the plate, stifling the rally.

Villalobos is to be sent to an instructional league in a few weeks to be converted to the outfield.

With one out in the sixth, James Clifford and Chris Dean singled. After pinch-hitter Villalobos struck out, Andy Augustine hit a line drive off Dixon’s glove for a single, loading the bases.

Lanza pulled a 2-and-2 hanging breaking ball over the left-field fence for his third home run of the season.

“First one,” Lanza said. “First one ever.”

That gave the JetHawks a 5-3 lead and right-hander Greg Wooten a chance to pick up his fourth consecutive victory.

Wooten (8-3) lasted seven innings, giving up three runs on nine hits with two strikeouts.

He got some insurance in the top of the eighth, when Chris Dean hit his fourth home run in nine days run and Villalobos scored on Augustine’ fly out.

JetHawks 7, Rancho Cucamonga 6

JetHawks: 000 014 020 -- 7 10 1

Visalia: 001 200 021 -- 6 16 0

Wooten, Beck (8), Thompson (9) and Augustine; Gaspar, Dixon (6), Schlutt (8) and Davis.

W--Wooten (8-3).L--Dixon (0-2).S--Thompson (13).

2B: J--Monahan 2; RC--Matthews.3B:RC--Melo, McKinnis.HR:J--Lanza (3), Dean (4).

Records: JetHawks 33-32; Rancho Cucamonga 29-36.