JetHawks Get Lift on Homer by Smith

And in this corner, Scott Smith. . . .

Smith, the JetHawks’ cleanup hitter, blasted a three-run home run in the top of the first inning, administering a knockout blow to the San Bernardino Stampede in a 5-2 victory on Thursday night before 3,680 at the Ranch.

“That’s what you need to do when you are playing a team that’s out of it,” Manager Dave Brundage said. “You hope to jump to an early lead and not let them back in the ballgame.”

By beating the Stampede, which was eliminated from the playoff race Wednesday night, the JetHawks (35-32, 71-66 overall) won their 11th in the past 15 games.

As hot as the JetHawks are, the teams in front of them continue to play just well enough to fend them off. High Desert won Thursday night, maintaining a two-game lead over the JetHawks with three games remaining.

Lake Elsinore lost, falling into a dead heat with the Mavericks for the California League Southern Division wild-card spot.

The JetHawks need to catch one of them to claim the wild-card berth.

They gave the Storm and Mavericks something to think about on the out-of-town scoreboard when they bolted to a 5-0 lead in the third.

The JetHawks took advantage of Dan Camacho’s wildness, scoring the runs with only one hit. But the hit was Smith’s homer, following two walks.

Smith, who has 10 homers with the JetHawks and 20 homers and 100 runs batted in this season, had two hits.

“Those were two big goals of mine and I got them on one swing,” Smith said.

He has pulled out of a 10-for-65 slump with 10 hits in 27 at-bats in his past six games.

In the third, Camacho issued three more walks--giving him six--and the JetHawks scored a run on a wild pitch and another on James Clifford’s sacrifice fly.

Trey Moore (7-5) worked seven innings, giving up one run on five hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

Tom Szimanski gave up a run in the eighth but retired Jim Martin, who represented the tying run, to end the inning. John Thompson pitched the ninth for his 14th save.

JetHawks 5, San Bernardino 2

JetHawks: 302 000 000 -- 5 7 2

San Bernardino: 000 100 010 -- 2 7 0

Moore, Szimanski (8), Thompson (9) and Wathan; Camacho, Kenady (7) and Luzinski.

W--Moore (7-5).L--Camacho (4-5).S--Thompson (14).

2B: SB--Richardson.HR:J--Smith (10).

Records: JetHawks 35-32; San Bernardino 33-34.