Hoff Pitches Quakes to Victory

Rancho Cucamonga pitcher Steve Hoff survived seven walks and four wild pitches in six innings to lead the Quakes to a 7-3 victory over the JetHawks on Friday night at Rancho Cucamonga.

Hoff, 19, allowed two hits and struck out five. He combined with Luis Torres on a three-hitter.

The game was tied, 3-3, in the sixth, but the Quakes got consecutive doubles and two run-scoring sacrifice flies against JetHawk reliever Brian Sweeney. Sweeney (2-1) allowed four runs on six hits in three innings.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

Mike Rossiter is upbeat and with good reason.

“My arm is stronger than it’s felt in a couple of years,” Rossiter said.

After arm problems nearly ended his career, Rossiter is pitching well for Stockton, the Milwaukee Brewers’ affiliate in the California League.

The right-hander from Burroughs High, who recently was switched from starter to setup man, is 6-1 with a 2.77 earned-run average. He pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts in Stockton’s 5-2 victory over Lake Elsinore on Thursday night.

Rossiter was chosen by Oakland as a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds in the 1991 draft. He had an exceptional curve ball and an excellent fast ball.

But Rossiter underwent elbow surgery in 1994 and injured the rotator cuff the following season. He was 8-9 with a 4.84 earned-run average at double-A Huntsville in 1996.

The Athletics released him in the spring and Milwaukee grabbed him, using him as a starter at Stockton early in the season.

“I like the bullpen a lot,” Rossiter said. “I like the pressure of coming in with guys on base.”

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Scanning Thursday’s box scores: TRIPLE A--Right-fielder Jacob Cruz (Channel Islands) had four singles for Phoenix. DOUBLE A--Former JetHawk outfielder Shane Monahan had two hits, including a home run, and three runs batted in for Memphis. . . . Right-fielder Gary Matthews Jr. (Granada Hills, Mission College) had three hits for Mobile. SINGLE A--Visalia center-fielder Ryan Christensen (Pepperdine) hit for the cycle. The home run was his 12th.