Santana Gives JetHawks Sweet Music

LAKE ELSINORE — The great thing about playing a game virtually every day is that the chance to erase a bad memory is usually just 24 hours away.

That was the JetHawks’ thinking on Tuesday night, when they did nearly everything right in an 8-2 victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm at the Diamond.

Marino Santana pitched his best game in more than a month, Shane Monahan had four hits to snap a two-for-22 slump, and the JetHawks turned four double plays.

All that after Monday night’s ugly 6-1 loss to Lake Elsinore.

“It was nice to see us come back and put together a solid performance,” Manager Dave Brundage said. “We had good pitching, some clutch hits and good, solid defense.”

The JetHawks’ playoff hopes still look grim. They remain 4 1/2 games behind the High Desert Mavericks in the wild-card race with 12 games remaining. They trail Lake Elsinore by 5 1/2 games in the race for the California League Southern Division second-half title.

Santana had struggled in his past six starts (0-5 with a 7.49 earned-run average) and was skipped on his last turn in the rotation.

Santana (8-14) allowed a run and five hits in seven innings, striking out seven.

“He used his fastball a lot more and kept it down and got ground balls,” catcher Dusty Wathan said. “That’s the way he needs to pitch.”

The JetHawks helped out with three double plays and Wathan nailed Cale Carter trying to steal second to end the third inning.

Ty Van Burkleo’s homer got the Storm to within 3-1 in the seventh but Santana struck out the side.

The JetHawks took the lead in the third on a solo homer by Chris Dean, his second in as many days.

In the sixth, Jesus Marquez tripled and James Clifford hit a two-run homer to make it 3-0.

In the eighth, Monahan doubled and scored on a single by Carlos Villalobos. Wathan added a two-run single and Shawn Buhner drove in another run with a single.

JetHawks 8, Lake Elsinore 2

JetHawks: 001 002 041 -- 8 12 2

Lake Elsinore: 000 000 110 -- 2 8 1

Santana, Szimanski (8), Thompson (9) and Wathan; Holzemer, Deakman (3), Hill (8), Sick (9) and Takayoshi.

W--Santana (8-14). L--Deakman (8-9).

2B: J--Monahan. 3B:J--Marquez, Watts, Monahan; LE--Dauphin. HR:J--Dean (2), Clifford (18); LE--Van Burkleo (14).

Records: JetHawks 28-30, Lake Elsinore 34-25.