JetHawks Doomed From Start

LANCASTER — The Lancaster JetHawks’ recent pitching problems have crept all the way to the top of the staff.

Right-hander Jeff Farnsworth, the Seattle Mariners’ second-round pick last June and the team’s top prospect, was racked for eight runs in 1 2/3 innings by the Bakersfield Blaze, who won, 11-6, Thursday night at the Hangar.

The JetHawks (13-15), who had given up 27 runs in the first two games of the series and toted a 5.27 earned-run average into Thursday night’s game, fell behind quickly.

Farnsworth (0-1) gave up a three-run homer in the first inning to Tim Cooper, who came into the game with a .216 average and 16 strikeouts in 51 at-bats. By the time Cooper came to bat in the second inning, Farnsworth was gone.

The Blaze disposed of Farnsworth in the second with three consecutive singles, a sacrifice fly, a double and a single.

The short start was just what the JetHawks did not need. Their bullpen was thin because closer Allan Westfall was placed on the disabled list with a bulging disc in his back and his replacement is not due until Saturday. Only three relievers were fresh, two others on the bubble of availability.

Right-hander Brian Sweeney replaced Farnsworth and nursed the game through the fifth, allowing just one more run.

Dusty Wathan and Luis Molina hit solo shots for the JetHawks in the second inning and James Clifford added a two-run shot in fifth that made the score 9-5. Clifford hit a solo homer in the ninth.

It was encouraging for what was left of the paid crowd of 4,513 because the JetHawks overcame a late five-run deficit on Saturday and a 10-run hole on Tuesday.

Just when Lancaster was back within a grand slam of a tie--at the Hangar, that’s the way you think--Sweeney gave up a leadoff single and a walk in the sixth. Left-hander Jason Bond took over and allowed both runs to score and the Blaze rebuilt the lead to 11-5.