Gryboski Carries Load for JetHawks

Working his way back from a shoulder injury, Kevin Gryboski of the Lancaster JetHawks knew that he would be limited to 60 pitches in Saturday night’s game.

But the right-hander made the most of his time on the mound, stretching his pitches over five innings and giving up three runs on three hits.

The JetHawks’ offense took over from there, putting together a five-run outburst in the seventh en route to a 10-7 victory over Bakersfield before 4,923 at the Hangar.

Shortstop Luis Molina led the 12-hit attack with three hits and three runs batted in. Jason Regan hit home runs in the first and eighth innings.

Gryboski was making his third appearance since spending five weeks on the disabled list.

“I felt pretty good today,” he said. “I got ahead of a lot of the hitters. I got a lot of first-pitch outs and ground outs.”

He also got off to a shaky start.

Gryboski, who had an 0-3 record and a less-than-daunting 9.33 earned-run average, gave up a single to Yorvit Torrealba and a home run to Damon Minor to fall behind, 2-0 in the first inning.

Gryboski settled down to retire the next five batters, three on strikeouts. From there, his only misstep came on a wild pitch that subsequently allowed Minor to score from third in the fourth inning.

Regan hit his first home run and Josh Watts followed with a run-scoring single during a two-run first inning.

Molina scored on a balk in the second and James Clifford hit a home run in the fifth.

By the time Aaron Scheffer relieved Gryboski after 54 pitches in the sixth inning, the JetHawks were holding a 4-3 lead.

That score amounted to a sparkling effort for the JetHawks, who came into the game with a 4.99 team ERA, highest in the California League. They had given up 10 runs or more in four games against Blaze this season.

Bakersfield denied Gryboski the victory when outfielder Raymundo Delgado hit a run-scoring triple to tie the score, 4-4, in the seventh.

But in the bottom half of the inning, the JetHawks loaded the bases and relief pitcher Jeff Hutzler walked home two runs. Hutzler gave way to Brian Knoll and Molina drove a 3-and-0 pitch into right field for a bases-clearing double.

“He got a nice, big hit for us,” said JetHawk Manager Rick Burleson. “He got ahead of the count and was able to get a pitch he could hit.”

The JetHawks led, 10-4, but the Blaze threatened to take the game into extra innings.

Minor and Delgado hit home runs in the ninth inning to close the gap. With two men on and two out, Chris Van Rossum hit a towering fly that Tarrik Brock caught on the warning track.