Slaton’s Mouth Open Over Shutout

Lancaster pitching coach Jim Slaton was still moderately awe-struck Thursday, the day after Joe Mays and Rafael Rivera combined for the team’s first shutout in 55 games at the Hangar this season. The JetHawks defeated San Bernardino, 8-0.

Opposing teams hit 85 home runs in the JetHawks’ wind-blown stadium before Thursday’s game.

“I never thought I’d see it happen,” Slaton said after the JetHawks took batting practice Thursday. “We’ve seen some home runs that are just a joke.”

“Look at all these balls,” Slaton added, pointing to a grounds crewman loading batting-practice home run balls into a bucket.

*

Mays was wobbly since joining the JetHawks at the all-star break, allowing 43 hits in 30 2/3 innings. But he got a wake-up call in the second inning when he was hit on the left knee by Conan Horton’s line drive.

“I couldn’t land on it stiff; I had to keep it bent,” said Mays, who settled down after stranding five runners in the first three innings. “But I got on top of the ball after that.”

*

Joe Victery’s 91 mph fastball has been good for 58 strikeouts in 59 innings this year. But the 22-year-old right-hander has never felt more vulnerable since injuring his elbow in his last appearance June 26 at Rancho Cucamonga.

Victery, recovering from a strained ligament, was activated from the disabled list Wednesday after pitching two innings in a simulated game.

“The first inning I was scared to death,” said Victery, who will return to action in middle relief situations.

*

Tonight’s game: San Bernardino (Kevin Pincavitch, 4-7, 7.41) at JetHawks (Javier Gutierrez, 1-1, 7.44), 7:15.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

Scanning Wednesday’s box scores: TRIPLE A--Columbus shortstop Matt Howard (Pepperdine) had two hits, including a triple, and drove in a run in a 5-3 victory over Ottawa. . . . DOUBLE A--Center fielder Ryan Christensen (Pepperdine) had three hits and drove in a run in Huntsville’s 14-6 rout of Carolina. . . . SINGLE A--First baseman Nate Dishington (Hoover) hit two home runs, his 16th and 17th, for Prince William in a 9-7 victory over Winston-Salem. . . . Designated hitter Robert Fick (Newbury Park-Cal State Northridge) doubled twice, giving him 35 for the season, for West Michigan in a 7-6 victory over Kane County. . . . ROOKIE--Shortstop Junior Brignac (Cleveland) had two hits and stole his sixth base for Danville in a 4-3 loss to Kingsport.