After Foul, Molina Fair for JetHawks

With the score tied in the ninth inning, the Lancaster JetHawks twice failed to bunt runners along.

But .233 hitter Luis Molina bailed out the JetHawks with a chopper that bounced over the head of third baseman Cliff Anderson and drove home Joel Ramirez to beat the San Bernardino Stampede, 4-3, on Wednesday night in front of 3,776 at the Hangar.

The victory, coupled with a 3-1 victory by Visalia over Modesto and Rancho Cucamonga’s 7-5 victory over High Desert gives Lancaster sole possession of first place in the California League’s Valley Division by one game.

Catcher David Skeels, who threw out two runners stealing to make him seven for seven this week, opened the ninth inning with a single and gave way to Ramirez. Tarrik Brock attempted to bunt the first four pitches, fouling off the second and fourth offerings from Billy Neal (0-4) on his way to drawing a walk.

Molina swung at Neal’s first pitch and bunted foul on the third pitch before delivering the game-winner.

Denny Bonilla (9-6) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings in relief of starter Jason Bond, allowing two hits and striking out two. Bond struck out eight and walked one, allowing three runs on nine hits.

Lancaster scored in the first inning, thanks to the generosity of the Stampede. First baseman Glenn Davis booted a grounder by Joe Mathis for a three-base error. Kevin Pincavitch got Cirilo Cruz to ground out, then issued three consecutive walks to force in Mathis.

San Bernardino evened the score, 1-1, in the second, on a one-out single by Jason Brown, which was followed three pitches later by Andy Owen’s run-scoring double.

The JetHawks regained the lead in the third inning on more Stampede generosity. Jason Regan walked with one out, took second on an infield single by Shawn Buhner and was forced in when Pincavitch walked the next two batters.

Yunni Kim scored for Lancaster in the sixth inning on a wild pitch by Chris Ochsenfeld. Kim opened the inning with a double off Pincavitch and took third on a fly ball by Skeels, which sent Pincavitch to the showers.

The Stampede tied the score and chased Bond in the seventh inning. Tony Mota led off with a double, took third on a sacrifice fly by Owen and scored on a single by Jack Jones.