Kuzmic Powers Lancaster Victory

After a power failure caused a 20-minute delay early in the game, Craig Kuzmic turned out the lights for good with a three-run home run in the seventh inning and a grand slam in the eighth for Lancaster in a 12-0 California League victory over Rancho Cucamonga at the Hangar on Saturday night.

Kuzmic had three hits and Juan Silvestre and Bo Robinson each had two for the JetHawks (8-2), who are off to their best start in the franchise’s five-year history under new Manager Mark Parent.

Enmanuel Ulloa (1-0) retired the Quakes in order in five of his seven innings. He struck out 10, walked none and allowed two hits.

Ben Howard (0-2) of Rancho Cucamonga gave up three hits, walked five and struck out seven before giving way to Keith Forbes in the sixth inning.

The JetHawks broke the game open in the seventh. After Scott Maynard scored from third on a wild pitch, Silvestre and Peanut Williams hit RBI singles for a 4-0 lead.

Mike Abate hit a solo home run in the eighth inning off Keith Volkman of Rancho Cucamonga. Kuzmic’s second homer also came off Volkman.

Lancaster took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Silvestre’s sacrifice fly scored Antonio Perez from third.

*

Terrmel Sledge, a Kennedy High graduate who played at Cal State Northridge and Long Beach State, reported to Lancaster. Sledge is replacing P.J. Williams, who is on the disabled list because of a broken hand.

Sledge started in center field Saturday and went one for four.

Sledge hit .318 with five home runs and 32 runs batted in in 62 games at short-season Class A Everett, Wash.

Sledge was batting .227 in 22 at-bats at Wisconsin before his promotion. Of his five hits, he had two doubles, two triples and had driven in three runs while scoring five.

*

Today’s game: Rancho Cucamonga at Lancaster, 2 p.m. Next series: vs. San Jose, 7:15 p.m. Monday-Wednesday. On the radio: KUTY-AM 1470.