JetHawks Stall in a Slow Lane

Unfortunately for the Lancaster JetHawks, Dusty Wathan got the catching genes but not the speed from his father, John, who holds the major league record for most stolen bases in a season by a catcher.

If Wathan had just a little more speed, he would not have grounded into the double play that ended the JetHawks’ eighth-inning rally in a 5-4 loss to the San Bernardino Stampede before 4,154 Friday night at the Hangar.

After playing in 18 scoreless innings, the JetHawks sprang to life in the eighth. Trailing, 5-0, they loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a single.

Yuni Kim and James Clifford each singled in a run, making it 5-2. Shawn Buhner followed with a two-run single against Stampede closer Jeff Kubenka.

But with the potential tying run at third and one out, Wathan hit a slow roller to shortstop Jack Jones, who started a double play that probably couldn’t have been turned with any runner other than the slow-footed Wathan.

At least Wathan still contributed with his defense, throwing out three more potential base stealers. He has nailed 17 of 28 (61%) would-be base stealers.

In the ninth, Carlos Villalobos led off with a walk, but Kubenka retired the next three hitters, striking out two, to send the JetHawks (7-9) to their sixth loss in seven games.

The JetHawks had done nothing against left-hander Ted Lilly, one of the Dodgers’ top pitching prospects. Lilly gave up only four hits, striking out six and walking one.