Pauley wants a place

By: GREG BALL - Staff Writer | Thursday, May 20, 2004 9:57 PM PDT ∞

LANCASTER ---- Long overshadowed in a stellar Storm rotation, David Pauley may have finally found his place.

The 20-year-old right-hander had been overlooked most of the season, but after the promotions of Tim Stauffer and Brian Whitaker in recent weeks, Pauley has been left as the team's top pitching prospect.

Thursday afternoon at Lancaster Municipal Stadium, he grabbed hold of the role, and may have solidified himself as the club's new ace.

Pauley threw six innings and held the JetHawks to one run on three hits in the Storm's 11-7 win, a game that got away from both bullpens in the late innings.

It was the fifth time in six starts Pauley threw at least six innings, and the seventh straight in which he allowed three earned runs or less.

The Storm helped him by pounding out 14 hits, including a pair of two-run home runs from third baseman Kervin Jacobo.

"Stauffer and Whitaker are very good pitchers and it took a little bit from the rest of our starters (when they left)," Pauley said. "We need to go out and fill those voids.

"I'd love the opportunity (to be the ace). Every time I'm out there, I'm going to give my best, and I'd expect the same from the rest of our starters. We have a very strong staff."

Pauley's outing was particularly impressive because of the disparity between his first three innings and his second three.

He worked out of first-and-third jams in the first inning and third inning, and escaped a bases-loaded situation unharmed in the second. He then set the side down in order in the fourth and fifth, and would have done the same in the sixth, if not for an infield error.

Pauley recorded 10 fly-ball outs but kept the ball in the ballpark despite a stiff wind blowing out.

"That's been one of my biggest things ---- showing people I have the ability to get out of trouble," Pauley said.

"I was spotting my fastball and keeping it down. That was why they weren't getting good swings. They were having to go down and get under it."

After three consecutive no-decisions, Pauley (2-3) won for the first time in a month. The Storm (22-17) are 5-3 in games Pauley has started.

"It's nice for the team to get a win, and it's nice to get one myself, too," Pauley said.

Jacobo, who entered Thursday hitting .310 against the JetHawks (22-17), homered to left off starter Keith Whatley (1-3) in the second and off reliever Cliff McMachen in the ninth.

On April 14, Jacobo's home run in the 10th inning lifted the Storm to a 6-4 win in Lancaster.

"When you're patient, something good can happen," said Jacobo, who hasn't hit a home run anywhere but The Hangar this season. "I took two good swings.

"In this park, you make a lot of outs because you think it's a good park to hit home runs in. Wherever you are, the only think you have to worry about it making good contact. But I love this park."

Jacobo's second homer added a comfortable cushion to the Storm's lead, especially when Dale Thayer ended up with the tying run on deck while pitching the ninth.

The Storm held a 4-1 lead before breaking the game open with a run in the seventh and three in the eighth. That proved important because Lancaster rallied for five runs off Wilmer Villatoro in the bottom of the eighth.

The Storm got a hit from everyone in the lineup except Steve Baker. They also got big days from Paul McAnulty (3-for-5, 3 RBIs) and Michael Johnson (3-for-5).

Greg Ball can be reached at (909) 676-4315, Ext. 2629 or gball@californian.com .