MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com –

BAKERSFIELD, CA – It is hard to pitch a shutout, strike out nine batters in your debut, and get overshadowed.  But despite Felix Doubront’s brilliant debut with the JetHawks, it was second baseman Kris Negron who stole the show.  Negron had a career night, hitting two home runs for the first time in his career, getting five hits and five RBI for the first time, and falling just a double shy of the cycle as the JetHawks shut out the Bakersfield Blaze 9-0.
 
With the win, the JetHawks magic number to clinch the Southern Division’s top seed is down to three.  Lancaster needs only three wins the rest of the season, or three losses by the second place team, to clinch.  The JetHawks remain in first place in the second half by one and ½ games.
 
Lancaster was dominant throughout, taking the lead in the first inning.  Jason Place and Negron both singled, then Ryan Kalish hit a three-run homer.  It was his second home run of the series and Kalish drove in seven over the three games.  Luis Exposito added his tenth home run of the season in the first inning as well.

span class="full-image-float-right">

 
That would be plenty for the pitchers.  Doubront used excellent control of his fastball to befuddle Blaze hitters.  He matched his career high with nine strikeouts in the 20-year old’s JetHawks debut.  Derrick Loop added three scoreless frames and Craig Molldrem turned in one to complete Lancaster’s second shutout in the three game series.
 
Negron started his night with a bunt single in the first inning.  He added a solo home run in the third and a RBI triple in the fifth, leaving him just a double short of the cycle.  After an infield single in the seventh, Negron almost got his cycle and would have- had he not accidentally hit a three-run homer instead.  The ball hit the second row of signs on the right field wall.  The irony is that until the ground rules were changed this year, a ball that hit their would have been ruled a double.

If you like the daily news of the Raw Feed, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to the nation's only alternative professional sports magazine, SZ, with original features and great action photography in baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. Just $11.99 per year for an e-zine like youʼve never seen!