Lancaster Regains Some Ground, 9-8

The Lancaster JetHawks walked a tight rope but managed to pick up a game in the California League’s Valley Division standings with a 9-8 victory over the Bakersfield Blaze in front of 2,002 on Saturday night in Bakersfield.

A single by Jason Regan scored Joe Mathis with what proved to be the winning run in the eighth inning. The JetHawks (38-24) scored twice in the inning to lead, 9-7, and held on.

Lancaster is two games behind division-leading High Desert, which lost at San Bernardino, 5-4. The JetHawks are a game ahead of Modesto, which beat Visalia, 4-2, in Visalia.

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Today’s game: JetHawks (Jason Bond, 4-6, 3.77) at Bakersfield (Jeff Hutzler, 1-6, 6.03), 5:05 p.m.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

Scanning Friday’s box scores: TRIPLE A--Syracuse designated hitter Rich Aude (Chatsworth) had four hits and drove in a run in a doubleheader split with Columbus. . . . First baseman Brad Fullmer (Montclair Prep) doubled and had a run batted in for Ottawa in a loss to Pawtucket. . . . Catcher Tim Laker (Simi Valley, Oxnard College) tripled and had two RBIs for Rochester in an 11-10 victory over Toledo. . . . Right-hander Dan Chergey (Thousand Oaks) worked 1 1/3 innings to get his third save in Charlotte’s 7-3 victory over Scranton-Wilkes Barre. . . . Center fielder Ryan Christenson (Pepperdine) had three hits for Edmonton in a loss to Tacoma. . . . DOUBLE A--Former JetHawk right-hander Brett Hinchliffe (8-10) pitched five shutout innings in Memphis’ 5-2 victory over Carolina. . . . Third baseman Stacy Kleiner (Taft) had three hits, hit his first home run and had two RBIs for Arkansas in a 5-2 victory over Jackson. . . . SINGLE A--Left fielder Mike Glendenning (Crespi, Pierce College) had three hits, including his 25th double, and had an RBI in a 3-2 victory over Bakersfield. . . . Designated hitter Dan Cey (El Camino Real) hit his 31st double and drove in a run for Ft. Myers in a victory over St. Petersburg. . . . Columbus third baseman Dennis Konrady (Pepperdine) hit his 22nd double and drove in three runs in a 12-3 rout of Piedmont. . . . Designated hitter Junior Brignac (Cleveland) had two hits and an RBI for Danville.