JETHAWKS REPORT : New Field Opens for Marquez

Jesus Marquez’s recent offensive tear can be attributed to a realignment of his swing, though you wouldn’t have known it from his performance Wednesday night.

“He knows there’s a left field now,” Manager Dave Brundage said of the left-handed hitter. “That’s the whole key for Jesus. He uses the whole field. Of course, [Wednesday] he just used the right-field fence.”

Marquez hit two balls over the right-field fence, including a two-run home run in the 10th inning of the JetHawks’ 5-3 victory over the Bakersfield Blaze. In three games against Bakersfield, Marquez was eight for 15 with three home runs and nine runs batted in.

“I feel good,” he said. “Before I was stepping toward first base [while swinging] and now I’m stepping toward third.”

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The JetHawks (27-27), who are back at .500 for the first time since May 12, couldn’t have picked a better time to play better baseball.

The JetHawks trail the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes by 1 1/2 games as they head into the final 16 games of the first half. All 16 are against Southern Division teams, including four against the Quakes at the Hangar on June 10-13.

The JetHawks are 2-2 against the San Bernardino Stampede, 3-3 against the High Desert Mavericks, 3-4 against the Quakes and 2-4 against the Lake Elsinore Storm.

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On their off-day Thursday, a small group of JetHawks--including Brundage--rented a recreational vehicle and went to Las Vegas. . . . After three games this weekend in San Bernardino, the JetHawks have another day off Monday before finishing the trip with three games at High Desert. . . . The JetHawks have hit .368 in winning six of their past seven games. They raised their season average from .270 to .281 during that stretch. . . . Bakersfield catcher Chris Paxton, a year removed from Palmdale High, played in all three games against the JetHawks at The Hangar and was two for seven.

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Tonight’s Game:

JetHawks (Brett Hinchliffe, 4-4, 5.07) at San Bernardino (Kevin Pincavitch, 0-2, 11.05), 7:05.