Bond Uses Concentration for 14-Strikeout Night

Jason Bond won’t be able to duplicate Friday night’s record-setting performance every time he pitches, but the 22-year-old left-hander won’t soon forget the reason he struck out a franchise-high 14 batters against Visalia.

Concentration. Bond said he was able to focus on every pitch.

“I’ve been trying to tell myself the whole year not to let up and challenge the hitters,” Bond said. “It’s real easy to relax and lose your sharpness. That’s when you start leaving balls out over the plate.”

Bond (3-6), a relief pitcher until late July, was able to lock in, relax and establish a rhythm. The results: he allowed one hit in seven innings, struck out the side three times and lowered his earned-run average from 4.14 to 3.80.

“Those three are hard to come by for an entire outing,” said Bond, who doesn’t consider himself a strikeout pitcher.

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The JetHawks were glued to their television sets Saturday to watch former Lancaster pitcher Ken Cloude make his big-league debut with the Seattle Mariners against the Chicago White Sox in a nationally televised game.

Cloude got the loss after no-hitting the White Sox for six innings. Lancaster first baseman Shawn Buhner said Cloude, who allowed two hits in the seventh inning, was inspiring.

“I had goose bumps. . . . chills,” said Buhner, Cloude’s ex-teammate. “I always think about being up there. I’ve been in the locker room and on the field with [brother] Jay. You always think about making the show.”

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Today’s game: Stockton (Brian Passini 0-2, 4.60) at JetHawks (Damaso Marte, 5-7, 5.07), 5:05.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

Scanning Friday’s box scores: TRIPLE A--Right-hander Roger Salkeld (Saugus) pitched two shutout innings for the win in Indianapolis’ 6-3 victory over Nashville. Salkeld is 3-7. . . . DOUBLE A--Shortstop David Lamb (Newbury Park) doubled twice and drove in a run for Bowie in a 5-1 win over Binghamton. . . . Former JetHawk Rob Luce went the distance, allowing six hits in a 2-1 victory over Huntsville. Second baseman David Newhan (Pepperdine) had two of those hits, including his first triple, and scored the only Stars run. . . . Right fielder J.P. Roberge (St. Francis) had two hits and three runs batted in for San Antonio, which beat Wichita, 7-2. . . . SINGLE A--Designated hitter Greg Shockey (Cal State Northridge) hit his 10th home run for Rancho Cucamonga in a 9-0 win over Bakersfield. . . . Catcher Stacy Kleiner (Taft) was three for four with an RBI, but Prince William lost to Kinston, 4-3. . . . Lakeland right fielder Gabe Kapler (Taft, Moorpark College) had three hits in a 6-2 win over Dunedin, including his 36th double. . . . First baseman Robert Fick (Newbury Park, Cal State Northridge) had two hits, including his 45th double, and three RBIs in West Michigan’s 10-2 win over South Bend. . . . Catcher Sam Voita (Calabasas, Granada Hills) was three for four with an RBI in a Hudson Valley loss. . . . Southern Oregon catcher Ron Tegland (Santa Clara) had three hits and an RBI in a loss.