JetHawks Score Major Victory by Beating Martinez

The Lancaster JetHawks had the opportunity to face major-league pitching Thursday night at the Hangar, and were up to the task before teeing off on the Class-A pitching they are used to in a 5-1 victory over San Bernardino.

A crowd of 6,037 was on hand to see Dodger ace Ramon Martinez pitch 4 1/3 innings in what may prove to be his final appearance with the Stampede while he is rehabilitating a partially torn rotator cuff.

Martinez threw 89 pitches, striking out seven and walking three. He allowed a first-inning run on two walks and two of Lancaster’s three hits against him.

According to Dodger Manager Bill Russell, who observed Martinez from a third-row seat behind home plate, Martinez’s pitches were clocked consistently between 88 to 89 mph, with his fastest recorded at 92 mph.

Martinez said he learned on the way to the game that Russell would be attending since the Dodgers played a rare weekday home game.

“It was a pretty good workout,” Martinez said. “I didn’t think about anything regarding the result of the game, if it was windy, or anything else. I just concentrated on having a good game.”

Said Russell: “It looks like he’s throwing free and easy and pain-free, and that’s what we’re concerned with.”

Martinez attributed his shaky first inning to being “too excited” because he pitched well in his last outing for the Stampede, adding that maybe he was “rushing” his delivery.

Russell was not concerned with Lancaster’s first-inning performance, because Martinez did settle down.

“What we’re more concerned with is his mechanics, and they’ve been good,” Russell said.

Martinez got a called strike on 11 of the 19 batters he faced.

Once Martinez departed after inducing Joe Mathis to ground out to open the fifth inning, the JetHawks blew the game open.

The JetHawks began the night with a one-game lead in the Valley Division over Modesto and High Desert. Modesto lost on Thursday, while High Desert won to stay one back.

Jason Regan hit his 19th and 20th home runs, the first against Jeff Paluk in the fifth inning with Cirilo Cruz on first base following a single.

Ivan Montane (1-0) struck out 10 and walked four in seven innings, allowing one run on four hits.