JetHawks Stall in a Slow Lane

LANCASTER — Unfortunately for the Lancaster JetHawks, Dusty Wathan got the catching genes but not the speed from his father, John, who holds the major league record for most stolen bases in a season by a catcher.

If Wathan had just a little more speed, he would not have grounded into the double play that ended the JetHawks’ eighth-inning rally in a 5-4 loss to the San Bernardino Stampede before 4,154 Friday night at the Hangar.

After playing in 18 scoreless innings, the JetHawks sprang to life in the eighth. Trailing, 5-0, they loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a single.

Yuni Kim and James Clifford each singled in a run, making it 5-2. Shawn Buhner followed with a two-run single against Stampede closer Jeff Kubenka.

But with the potential tying run at third and one out, Wathan hit a slow roller to shortstop Jack Jones, who started a double play that probably couldn’t have been turned with any runner other than the slow-footed Wathan.

At least Wathan still contributed with his defense, throwing out three more potential base stealers. He has nailed 17 of 28 (61%) would-be base stealers.

In the ninth, Carlos Villalobos led off with a walk, but Kubenka retired the next three hitters, striking out two, to send the JetHawks (7-9) to their sixth loss in seven games.

The JetHawks had done nothing against left-hander Ted Lilly, one of the Dodgers’ top pitching prospects. Lilly gave up only four hits, striking out six and walking one.