JetHawks Hit Afterburners

It wasn’t until Josh Watts’ broken bat single in the seventh inning that the JetHawks’ bats were fixed.

After being stymied by Lake Elsinore’s Brian Cooper for six innings, the JetHawks (13-6) erupted for six hits in their final two at-bats and rallied for a 3-2 victory in front of 3,044 fans at the Hangar in a California League game Tuesday night.

Cooper held the hot-hitting JetHawks in check through seven innings, giving up five hits and one earned run.

The JetHawks roughed up the Storm’s ace reliever, Bryan Harris (4-2), in the eighth.

Carlos Villalobos started the inning with a single and later scored on Jim Horner’s single to center.

Watts singled home the winning run when he slapped a hit to right field.

“I wasn’t good with my at-bats today but the last two hits were lucky,” Watts said. “It wasn’t pretty, but I got the job done.”

Sean Spencer pitched the ninth to earn his eighth save.

The JetHawks received an encouraging performance from Kevin Gryboski.

The right-hander allowed four hits over six innings and struck out five.

“My pitch count is increasing,” Gryboski said. “I feel pretty good and the defense is playing well. I can’t ask for much more.”

Lake Elsinore (6-13) scored first when Derek Ryder tagged Gryboski for his first professional home run in the third inning.

The JetHawks countered in the bottom half of inning when Luis Molina doubled home Tarrik Brock.

The score was tied until the sixth when Lake Elsinore scored to take a 2-1 lead.

Notes: JetHawks pitcher Joe Victery was placed on the seven-day disabled list because of a sore right elbow. Victery was 3-3 with a 5.64 earned-run average. His start on the DL is retroactive to July 4. . . . Carlos Villalobos has been selected as the “Batter of the Week” for the Cal League for the period of June 29-July 5. The third baseman batted .550 with 11 runs scored, 11 hits and 10 runs batted in.

* DAILY REPORT

Jacob Cruz had the hottest June of any minor-league hitter. C7