JetHawks Hold Down Visalia, 8-6

For the first time in three games, the Lancaster JetHawks held an opponent under 10 runs, opening a road trip Friday with an 8-6 victory over the Visalia Oaks in Visalia.

James Clifford hit home runs in the first and sixth innings, driving in three runs, and Luis Molina had a three-run blast in the fifth to support pitcher Eric Morgan (2-1), who went seven innings. Sean Spencer got the final two outs for the save.

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Catcher Dusty Wathan, who was hit on the right wrist by a pitch in the ninth inning of Thursday night’s game, is expected to miss a few days, JetHawk trainer Troy McIntosh said.

X-rays taken Friday morning on Wathan’s wrist were negative, which was a relief to the JetHawks because he has been one of the team’s hottest players.

Wathan, who is batting .363, has a nine-game hitting streak in which he has a .563 average with 18 hits in 32 at-bats. He has thrown out 22 of 36 (61%) runners attempting to steal.

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Tonight’s Game: JetHawks (Damaso Marte, 0-0, 3.27) at Visalia (Kevin Mlodik, 0-2, 13.24), 7:05.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

Greg Shockey bounced back rather quickly.

The former Cal State Northridge outfielder was released by the Angels at the end of spring training and spent most of April out of baseball. But he got a call Wednesday from the San Diego Padres, who have had several major league injuries that have caused a ripple of openings throughout the system.

By Wednesday night, Shockey was in uniform with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.

On Thursday night, in his first at-bat with the Quakes, Shockey hit a pinch two-run home run.

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Scanning Thursday box scores: TRIPLE A--First baseman Ryan McGuire (El Camino Real) had a single and a double for Ottawa. . . . Designated hitter Jacob Cruz (Channel Islands) had three hits, including his fourth homer, for Phoenix. . . . Left-hander Andrew Lorraine (Hart) pitched five scoreless innings and picked up a victory for Edmonton. Lorraine (2-1) has a 5.29 earned-run average. DOUBLE A--First baseman Kevin Millar (Hart) had three hits, including his seventh home run, and four runs batted in, for Portland, Maine. Millar leads the Eastern League with 32 RBIs, is tied for the lead in home runs and is fifth with a .365 average. . . . CLASS A--Right-hander Mike Rossiter (Burroughs) gave up two runs in six innings, but did not get a decision for Stockton. . . . First baseman Mike Mitchell (Rio Mesa) had three hits, including his 15th and 16th doubles, for Rancho Cucamonga. Mitchell, who is batting .374, leads minor league baseball in doubles. . . . Right-hander Brandon Knight (Buena, Ventura College) pitched a three-hit shutout with one walk and six strikeouts for Port Charlotte, Fla. Knight (3-1) has a 1.58 ERA. . . . Outfielder Will Skett (Reseda, Valley College) hit his fourth home run for Sarasota, Fla. . . . Catcher Eric Gillespie (Northridge) hit his second home run for Cedar Rapids, Iowa. . . . First baseman Pete Paciorek (Glendale College) hit his second home run for Clinton, Iowa.