Ninth-Inning Comeback Falls Short for JetHawks

The Lancaster JetHawks rallied for a run in the ninth inning but stranded the tying run at second base in a 7-6 loss to the Lake Elsinore Storm on Saturday night at Lake Elsinore.

Luis Tinoco’s pinch-hit double with one out in the ninth drove in Dusty Wathan from second. But reliever Jason Hill retired Luis Molina and Joe Mathis on groundouts to record his third save.

Shawn Buhner led off the third with a home run for the JetHawks (6-4), who collected 11 hits. Right-hander Chris Beck (0-1) allowed 10 hits through 5 1/3 innings.

Jose Cintron (2-0) earned the victory for Lake Elsinore.

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Utility man Mike Martin hit .180 in his first two seasons of pro baseball after he was picked by the San Diego Padres in the ninth round of the 1995 draft. But the Mariners signed him in the off-season, and he’s done nothing but impress people.

His four-for-four game Friday night lifted his average to .533 (eight for 15). Martin, a catcher and third baseman, has a simple explanation why he’s playing better in Lancaster.

“You try to play in Clinton, Iowa,” he said of his two-year stint in the Midwest League. “You’ve got about 50 people in the stands a night, all drunk and yelling at you. You can’t see the pitches because there’s a big riverboat in the batter’s eye. It’s dark. It’s cold.

“You just don’t feel like playing there. We had five or six guys on that team that just retired.”

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Today’s game:

JetHawks (Kevin Gryboski, 0-1, 10.13) at Lake Elsinore (Jason Stephens, 0-0, 10.38), 2:05.

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Around the leagues

Scanning Friday’s box scores: Designated hitter Matt Franco (Westlake High) had two singles for triple-A Norfolk, Va. . . . Brad Fullmer (Montclair Prep) went two for five for double-A Harrisburg, Pa., extending his hitting streak to six games. . . . Former JetHawk Marino Santana picked up a victory, allowing one run in two innings of relief for double-A Jacksonville, Fla. It was his first decision with the Tigers’ organization since he left the Mariners as a free agent in the off-season. . . . Also for Jacksonville, catcher Del Marine (El Camino Real, Moorpark College) went two for two with his second home run.