Lancaster Gets Lift on Mound

The Lancaster JetHawks made several roster moves, including the addition of right-hander Chris Mears, the Seattle Mariners’ minor league pitcher of the year in 1998.

Mears was promoted from Wisconsin of the Class A Midwest League, where he was 10-1 with a 2.43 earned-run average. He was 9-1 with a 2.74 ERA last year at Everett of the short-season Class A Northwest League.

Shortstop Ricky Magdaleno was promoted to New Haven of the double-A Eastern League, pitcher Jose Klepaski was sent to Everett and catcher Scott Maynard to Wisconsin.

Jason Regan and Tim McClaskey, former JetHawks, were returned to Lancaster from New Haven and catcher Peanut Williams came from Wisconsin.

Magdaleno was batting .348 and Klepaski had pitched two hitless, scoreless innings since joining the JetHawks on June 15 after extended spring training in Peoria, Ariz.

Regan, a third baseman, was batting .213 and McClaskey had no decisions and a 2.25 ERA in eight innings. Williams was batting .250 at Wisconsin.

The Mariners released pitchers Derek Bienaisz and Joe Victery of the JetHawks and outfielder Gerald Eady. Bienaisz was 1-8 with a 7.91 ERA, Victery was 1-4 with an 8.51 ERA and Eady was batting .245.

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Shawn McCorkle hit two home runs to help the JetHawks open the second half of the season with a 4-1 victory at Stockton.

Harvey Hargrove had three hits and drove in a run for Lancaster, which got eight innings from starter Neil Longo (3-2) before Justin Kaye saved his ninth game.

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Up next: At Stockton, today-Saturday; at Visalia, Sunday-Tuesday.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

Triple A--Right-hander Brandon Knight (Buena High, Ventura College) gave up four hits, one walk and two runs over five innings for Oklahoma (Rangers) in a 3-1 loss to Memphis in a seven-inning game.

Class A--Left fielder Eric Cole (Antelope Valley High, Antelope Valley College) had three hits for Kissimmee (Astros).