Villalobos Part of 5-Player Deal

Third baseman Carlos Villalobos, one of four remaining original JetHawks, was traded Friday to the Detroit Tigers’ organization as part of a five-player deal.

Villalobos, who led Lancaster with 71 runs, 22 doubles and a .541 slugging percentage and was among the leaders in several other categories, was sent to Detroit along with Seattle Mariners’ pitcher Scott Sanders and Tacoma reliever Dean Crow in exchange for Tiger pitchers Omar Olivares and Felipe Lira.

Villalobos, 22, is in his third professional season and having his best offensive year. He was second at Lancaster with a .341 batting average and 53 runs batted in. Defense was all that appeared to keep Villalobos from a promotion to Class AA. He committed a team-high 42 errors in 1996 and was tied for the JetHawk lead with 14.

“I can see how another team would be interested in him,� Lancaster Manager Rick Burleson said. “He’s got a lively body and the ball’s jumping off his bat. This says a lot about how he’s developing.�

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Second baseman Jason Regan will move to third. To replace Villalobos on the roster, the JetHawks will get utility player Cirilo Cruz, who was batting .294 at Wisconsin. Cruz, 22, is the son of former major leaguer Tommy Cruz and the cousin of former JetHawk Jose Cruz Jr., who is a starting outfielder for the Mariners. Cruz will join the team today.

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Pitcher Denny Stark has a strained ligament in his right elbow and will miss his next start. Stark (1-1) left Thursday night’s game after 2 1/3 innings and 87 pitches. He has been troubled by stiffness in his elbow for the past month.

“If there’s any discomfort in his side work, we might have to shut him down longer,� Burleson said.

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Tonight’s game: JetHawks (Kevin Gryboski, 0-4, 8.41) at Lake Elsinore (Rafael Quirico, 4.55), 7:05.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

Scanning Thursday’s box scores: TRIPLE A--Second baseman Steve Rodriguez (Pepperdine) had three hits, including two doubles, for Toledo in a 6-2 loss to Norfolk. . . . First baseman Rich Aude (Chatsworth) hit a home run for Syracuse in a 9-6 loss to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. ROOKIE--Right-hander John Romero (San Fernando, Mission College) pitched two scoreless innings in relief for Butte in a 16-6 victory over Lethbridge.