7 Unlucky for JetHawks

The Lancaster JetHawks took a two-run lead into the eighth inning, but gave up a season-high seven runs in the inning and lost, 10-5, to the San Jose Giants on Wednesday night at San Jose Municipal Stadium.

Left-handed reliever Jason Bond (0-2) started the eighth for the JetHawks (7-7) and surrendered four runs. The Giants scored the go-ahead runs on a one-out, two-run single by designated hitter John Bess against Denny Bonilla.

Luis Molina hit a two-run home run, his second, to give the JetHawks a 5-3 lead in the seventh.

*

Right-hander Damaso Marte, one of the top pitching prospects in the Seattle Mariner organization, will make his JetHawk debut tonight in San Jose, pitching two innings.

Marte, on the disabled list because of a sore elbow, will be activated today and take the spot of right-hander Chris Beck, who was promoted to double-A Memphis on Monday.

Beck was 0-1 with a 6.35 earned-run average in two starts.

*

Tonight’s Game:

JetHawks (Damaso Marte, 0-0, 0.00) at San Jose (Jason Brester, 1-0, 3.00), 7:15.

*

Around the Leagues

Gabe Kapler, an outfielder for Class-A Lakeland, Fla., has turned around a dreadful start in a hurry.

Kapler (Taft, Moorpark College) went hitless in his first 15 at-bats, but since then he is 12 for 31 (.387). He has three home runs and 12 RBIs during the streak.

*

Scanning Tuesday box scores: First baseman Brad Fullmer (Montclair Prep) had two hits for double-A Harrisburg, Pa. . . . First baseman Kevin Millar (Hart) hit his third home run, his second in as many games, for double-A Portland, Maine. . . . Right-hander Russ Ortiz (Montclair Prep) of double-A Shreveport, La., gave up five runs and 11 hits in three innings.

*

The unlikely rise through the minors of Chris Fick ended last week when the 27-year-old outfielder retired rather than accept a demotion from double-A Shreveport, La., to Bakersfield of the Class-A California League.

Fick was chosen by the Phoenix Firebirds, triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Rule 5 draft last December after he hit 19 home runs and drove in 74 runs for double-A Arkansas. Phoenix demoted him to Shreveport, and when he was asked to go to Bakersfield, he decided to return to Thousand Oaks.

Fick, whose brother, Robert, is a Class-A catcher in the Detroit Tigers organization, did not play for several years after graduating from Newbury Park High in 1988. He walked on at Cal Lutheran and is one of the Kingsmen’s all-time home run and RBI leaders.

He signed with the Cardinals in 1994 and hit 39 home runs and 60 doubles in 940 minor league at-bats.