Kim Uses Universal Language

Since English is not one of Yuni Kim’s strong points, he’ll have to let his bat speak for him.

Kim, signed by the Mariners this spring after playing top-level amateur baseball in Japan, had two home runs, a double and six runs batted in, leading the JetHawks to a 10-7 victory over the High Desert Mavericks on Friday night before a paid crowd of 3,078--the smallest since the team moved to Lancaster.

“I speak little bit,” Kim said of his English.

And of the home runs?

“Very excited.”

Even JetHawk Manager Rick Burleson, who picked up his first managerial victory, had to work to find the words to describe Kim’s night.

“What can you say?” he said. “It’s a tremendous night. He hit the ball about as hard as you can hit it three times.”

Kim was the brightest of several stars on the night for the JetHawks (1-1).

Second baseman Chris Dean also had a good night, collecting three hits and making a run-saving play on a ground ball in the fifth. Joe Mathis had two hits, including a two-run home run. Even No. 9 hitter Luis Molina drilled a solo home run.

Three pitchers--Rob Luce, Brian Sweeney and Denny Bonilla--combined to hold the Mavericks to one earned run through eight innings, but pinch-hitter Keith Wilson hit a two-run home run off Bonilla in the ninth to pull the Mavericks within three.

Travis Lee then singled before Bonilla retired Mike Stoner on a ground ball to pick up his first save.

Luce (1-0), who was moved up in the rotation to replace injured Damaso Marte, pitched well. He gave up four runs in five innings, but all were unearned.

The JetHawks climbed out of the 4-0 hole in the bottom of the third.

Molina led off with his first home run since 1995. After Mathis and Dean singled and Luis Tinoco grounded into a force, Kim drilled a three-run home run to center field, tying the score, 4-4.

The JetHawks put the game away in the seventh, when Tinoco walked and then trotted home in front of Kim’s second home run, this one a no-doubter to left field.