JetHawks Win Game, Lose Players

LAKE ELSINORE — Mike Martin, a backup catcher and third baseman for the Lancaster JetHawks, announced his retirement on Sunday, effective immediately after a 3-2 victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm before 4,708 at the Diamond.

Although JetHawk starting pitcher Rob Luce became the California League’s second eight-game winner, the big news came from Martin, 24, a third-year pro whose .236 average this season raised his career average to .194.

His retirement--and a shoulder injury suffered by starting catcher Dusty Wathan in a home-plate collision on Friday night--means David Skeels is the team’s only catcher until the Seattle Mariners make a roster move. Wathan is expected to miss another week.

The JetHawks (29-29) will also lose starting pitcher Matt Apana, who is to report to double-A Memphis today. Apana pitched last season in double A, and was only with Lancaster rehabilitating from rotator cuff surgery.

Right-hander Javier Gutierrez will move up from Class-A Wisconsin to take Apana’s spot.

In Sunday’s game, Luce (8-1) gave up two runs in six innings. Jason Bond pitched two innings and Sean Spencer pitched a perfect ninth to record his fourth save.

Lancaster’s James Clifford had three hits and Yuni Kim hit his eighth home run.