Clifford’s Double Saves JetHawks in 11th Inning

LANCASTER — James Clifford’s one-out double in the bottom of the 11th drove in Chris Dean from first base, giving the Lancaster JetHawks an 8-7 victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm on Friday night, salvaging a game in which the JetHawks blew a six-run lead.

Dean led off the inning with a single on a high chopper in the infield. After Miguel Correa flied out, Clifford lined a double into right center against right-hander Jason Stephens, a starting pitcher who was throwing in relief because the Storm had run out of available relievers.

Right-hander Aaron Scheffer (4-1), who pitched two perfect innings, got the victory for the JetHawks (21-21).

The Hangar crowd of 5,235 probably thought a JetHawk victory was secure when the team led 7-1 and had its best pitcher, right-hander Rob Luce, on the mound.

Luce pitched a brilliant five innings and then survived another two-plus in not-so-dominating fashion to give the beleaguered bullpen a rest.

Luce gave up a run in the first on a pair of singles, then retired 10 in a row before a 15-foot infield single by Trent Durrington in the fifth. As the JetHawks were building a six-run lead, the Lake Elsinore hitters were slowly figuring out Luce.

They scored a run in the sixth to pull within 7-2. Then Jon Vandergriend led off the eighth with a homer, which was followed by Norm Hutchins’ single and Paul Failla’s double. Luce left with two runners in scoring position and no outs.

Reliever Rafael Rivera retired the next three hitters, but two of the outs drove in runs, pulling Lake Elsinore within 7-5.

Rivera started the ninth by walking the leadoff batter, Durrington, a sin that came back to haunt him when he gave up a game-tying two-run homer to the next batter, Richard Stuart. Rivera retired the next three to preserve the tie.

The JetHawks had the potential winning run at second with one out in the bottom of the inning, but Clifford struck out and Carlos Villalobos fouled out to first base.

It was one of the few things Villalobos, who has an 11-game hitting streak, has done wrong lately.