at Lancaster

Today: 7:05 p.m. LHP Matt Chico (1-2, 5.14) vs. RHP Javier Martinez (4-2, 4.94)

Wednesday: 6:05 p.m. RHP Garrett Mock (6-4, 4.52) vs. LHP Arturo Lopez (5-3, 3.77)

Thursday: 7:05 p.m. RHP Chad Scarbery (3-3, 5.14) vs. RHP Cesar Carrillo (0-0, 0.00)

RECORDS: Lancaster 38-42 overall, 1-9 second half; Storm 46-33, 5-5

SINKING FAST: The JetHawks battled the Storm for the first-half title down to the final week, when Lake Elsinore pulled ahead and secured the playoff berth that comes with finishing first. Since then, the Storm have persevered despite the promotion of three players to Double-A Mobile, Ala., while Lancaster has hit the skids. The JetHawks dropped their first nine games in the second half before winning Saturday.

PRO DEBUT: Cesar Carillo, the Padres top pick in the recent amateur draft, will make his first professional start for the Storm on Thursday. The right-hander was the 18th overall pick out of the University of Miami, where he went 13-3 with a 2.22 ERA and struck out 127 batters in 18 starts and one relief appearance this year. Carrillo was named a first-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and was one of three finalists for the Roger Clemens award, which is given to the top college pitcher.

RANDOM NUMBERS: Lake Elsinore ranks third in the Cal League in team ERA at 4.28 while Lancaster, which plays half its games in a hitter-friendly park, is eighth at 5.29. Jared Wells leads the way for the Storm with a 3.08 ERA that ranks second in the league and Arturo Lopez is fourth at 3.77. The Storm are also third in the league in team hitting with a .293 average and tied for second in runs scored with 487. Lancaster is second in hitting (.294) and first in runs (494). The JetHawks Miguel Montero (.347) is fifth in hitting and the Storm's Fernando Valenzuela Jr. (.315) is tied for 11th place.

Carrillo, the 18th overall pick in the draft out of the University of Miami (FL), was named a First Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after going 13-3 with a 2.22 ERA (31 ER/125.2 IP) in 19 games (18 starts) with 127 strikeouts this season. Carrillo, who was also chosen as one of three finalists for the Roger Clemens Award given annually to the top pitcher in college baseball,