Stockton Gets Even by Beating JetHawks

A pitcher with a 1-10 record and a 6.43 earned-run average combined with the bottom of the Stockton Ports’ lineup to hand the Lancaster JetHawks a 7-1 loss Wednesday night at the Hangar, squaring the best-of-three series in the first round of the California League Valley Division playoffs.

Mike Pasqualicchio pitched a four-hitter for the Ports, while No. 6 batter Jermaine Swinton and No. 7 hitter Richard Perez each scored two runs.

The teams play the deciding game tonight at Stockton.

Kelly Phair sent Lancaster starter Jason Bond (5-8) to the showers by driving the first pitch of the ninth inning over the left-field fence to give the Ports a 6-1 lead.

“We’re back to a one-game playoff again,” said Lancaster Manager Rick Burleson, whose team beat Modesto in a one-game playoff Monday to earn a wild-card berth in the postseason. “No one said it would be easy. We just have to come back and do it the hard way.”

Bond recorded three of his six strikeouts in the first inning, as well as surrendering a double to Anthony Iapoce which proved to be an omen of things to come. The Lancaster starter surrendered nine hits and walked three.

The Ports scored two runs in the second inning on a walk to Toby Kominek, a run-scoring double down the left-field line by Swinton, a sacrifice bunt by Perez and a run-scoring single by Phair.

Stockton added two unearned runs in the fourth, with Swinton scoring from second on a single by Phair off the glove of Lancaster shortstop Joel Ramirez. Perez scored from third when Robinson Cancel grounded into a fielder’s choice.

Perez singled with one out in the sixth inning and scored on a single by Cancel that hit the tip of Lancaster first baseman Shawn Buhner’s glove and bounced into right field.

Pasqualicchio kept the Lancaster offense at bay by striking out seven, walking two and holding the JetHawks hitless from the fourth inning on.

The JetHawks received a gift run in the third inning in the form of a two-base throwing error by Stockton second baseman Josh Tyler on a ground ball by Cirilo Cruz. Joe Mathis led off the inning with an infield single and stole second on the fourth pitch to Cruz, which was followed immediately by the soft grounder that Tyler charged and threw into the dugout.

JETHAWKS NOTES:

Tonight’s pitching matchup: Lancaster (Ivan Montane, 1-2, 5.29) at Stockton (Brian Passini (1-5, 4.76), 7:05 p.m. . . . The JetHawks won eight of 13 regular-season games against the Ports. . . . The first two games of the Valley Division Championship five-game series will be played Friday and Saturday at High Desert, regardless of which team wins tonight. Friday’s game is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m., while Saturday’s game is slated for 7:05 p.m. . . . Although the JetHawks’ ticket office was open Saturday and Sunday, Kevin Younkin, director of ticketing, said the team did not begin selling tickets for Wednesday’s game until 9 a.m. Tuesday, after the team clinched its playoff berth Monday night at Modesto. Younkin estimated 1,000 tickets were sold Tuesday and Wednesday for Wednesday night’s game. . . . Younkin also said that approximately 1,800 season-ticket holders exercised their option to receive playoff tickets as the team advances and games are announced. . . . Tonight’s winner will play host to games three and four of the Valley Division championships, Sunday and Monday.

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* STATISTICS

A look at minor leaguers from the region. C11