6-Run Rally Only Makes This Latest Defeat Close

LANCASTER — Just when it seemed the JetHawks would end their losing streak with the most-stunning victory of the season, the Modesto A’s Mike Neill smacked them with a big dose of reality.

The JetHawks scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull into a tie, but Neill hit a three-run home run to give Modesto an 11-8 victory Wednesday night at the Hangar.

With two runners on and two out in the eighth, Neill ripped John Daniels’ pitch so far over the fence in right-center field that the outfielders took just a couple of steps back before watching Neill’s 17th homer fly into the night.

“It was a fastball down the middle, the best pitch to hit,” Daniels said. “I was trying to throw him something away. I just left it over the middle of the plate.”

The JetHawks (17-23), who have lost 16 of 20, will read their names at the bottom of the California League Southern Division standings for the 15th consecutive day today.

“I thought once we tied it up we were going to win it,” said JetHawk shortstop Jason Cook. “It seems like this is happening to us a lot lately, losing leads or coming back and coming up short. Better days are ahead I’m sure . . . for all of us, I hope.”

The JetHawks’ sixth consecutive loss took the crowd of 3,904 on a roller-coaster ride of emotion.

The JetHawks trailed, 8-2, when they sprung to life in the bottom of the seventh.

With one out, the JetHawks scored twice on two walks, two hits and an error and had the bases loaded with Jesus Marquez, who earlier hit a two-run home run, at the plate.

Marquez drilled Chris Cochrane’s 2-and-2 pitch off the right-field fence, just over the leap of Modesto’s Gary Hust. While Hust chased the rolling ball in the outfield, three runs scored.

And as Hust fumbled to pick up the ball, JetHawk Manager Dave Brundage waved Marquez around, tying the score, 8-8.

The JetHawks had runners at first and third later in the inning, threatening to take the lead, but pinch-hitter Scot Sealy grounded into an inning-ending force play.

The rally helped JetHawk ace Ken Cloude avoid his fourth loss of the season. Cloude, who was trying to move into a tie for the league lead with his 13th victory, began the game with three perfect innings, including four strikeouts.

A control artist who strikes out three batters for every walk, Cloude walked three--including one with the bases loaded--in the fourth.

After Marquez’s 15th homer--which tied him for the team lead--gave the JetHawks a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth, the A’s tied the score, 2-2, in the top of the fifth and took a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth with a two-out rally.

In the seventh, Cloude gave up a leadoff single and another walk. He then balked both runners into scoring position, and they scored on David Slemmer’s double. Trailing 6-2, Cloude was then pulled.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Modesto 11, JetHawks 8

Modesto 000 112 430 -- 11 12 3

JetHawks 000 200 600 -- 8 11 2

Dale, Cochrane (7), Rajotte (7) and Ardoin; Cloude, Soden (7), Daniels (8) and Wathan.

W--Rajotte (2-5). L--L--Daniels (3-5).

2B: M--Newhan, Neill, Slemmer; J--Smith. 3B:M--White; J--Marquez. HR:M--Neill (17); J--Marquez (15).

Records: Modesto 28-13; JetHawks 17-23.