Norton’s Three Homers Knock Down JetHawks

Jason Bond had gone 24 games without making a start in the minor leagues.

Based on his performance Wednesday night at the Hangar it might be wise to wait awhile before trying it again.

The Lake Elsinore Storm jumped on Bond early en route to a 14-9 victory over the JetHawks in a Cal League game in front of 3,799 fans.

The Storm (7-13) scored four runs in the first inning, with designated hitter Chris Norton hitting a three-run home run.

Norton wasn’t selective when it came to Lancaster pitchers. He hit another three-run home run in the sixth off reliever Rafael Rivera.

For an encore, he hit his third home run, a two-run blast in the eighth, also against Rivera. Norton had nine runs batted in.

Lake Elsinore scored four unearned runs in the sixth.

The JetHawks (13-7) committed three errors. Lancaster had gone five games with only one error before its defensive lapse.

Bond (1-6) had an earned-run average of 3.29 but the left-hander gave up six earned runs and nine hits in three-plus innings.

Lake Elsinore Manager Don Long was ejected in the fourth inning when he argued with plate umpire Brian Runge, who called out Justin Baughman trying to steal home.

JetHawk Notes

The Seattle Mariners signed free agent utilityman John Donati and assigned him to Lancaster. Donati batted .283 in Class-A ball in the Cleveland Indians’ organization last season. He is scheduled to make his debut today. . . . Jason Regan, who has a 10-game hitting streak for the JetHawks, did not play Wednesday night.