It’s Never on Sunday for the Skeels Family

David Skeels, a seldom-used No. 3 catcher, has been saying that as soon as he found out he was starting a home game, he would call his family in Thousand Oaks and they would be in Lancaster by game time.

Skeels started his first home game, his third start overall, on Sunday. He didn’t even call home.

“My family’s a little busy on Sundays,” said Skeels, whose father, Wilbur, is a minister in a Thousand Oaks church.

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Third baseman Carlos Villalobos was the California League hitter of the week for the period ending Saturday. Villalobos was 12 for 22 (.545) in six games. He has a 13-game hitting streak in which he is 22 for 43, raising his average from .275 to .366, third in the league. . . . Right-handers Jeff Farnsworth and Kevin Gryboski got their MRI results on Monday, and neither will need surgery. Left-hander Sean Spencer, who had surgery for a staph infection earlier this month, is expected to begin throwing today and could pitch in another week. . . . Right-hander Matt Apana, who will throw the first 60 pitches for the JetHawks today, was the California League pitcher of the year in 1994, when he was 14-4 with a 2.83 earned-run average with Riverside. Apana pitched last year in double A. He is with the JetHawks rehabilitating from rotator cuff surgery. Joe Victery, the normally scheduled starter, will replace Apana when he reaches his pitch limit.

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Tonight’s Game: Modesto (Tom Bennett, 1-4, 6.30) at JetHawks (Matt Apana, 0-0, 0.00), 7:15.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

Scanning Monday box scores: TRIPLE A--Right-hander Jeff Suppan (Crespi) is 5-1 for Pawtucket, R.I., after giving up four runs in seven innings. . . . Catcher Tim Laker (Simi Valley, Oxnard College) homered and had three runs batted in for Rochester, N.Y. . . . Right-hander Pat Ahearne (Pepperdine) gave up two runs in seven innings and is 2-2 for Albuquerque. CLASS A--Outfielder Ryan Christensen (Pepperdine) had three hits, including his ninth home run, for Visalia. . . . Second baseman Dave Newhan (Pepperdine) had two hits, including his third home run, for Visalia. . . . First baseman Nate Dishington (Hoover) hit his ninth homer and drove in three runs for Prince William, Va.

Scanning Sunday box scores: TRIPLE A--Right-hander Roger Salkeld (Saugus) gave up one hit and two runs in five innings, but did not get a decision for Indianapolis. . . . Outfielder Jacob Cruz (Channel Islands) hit his seventh home run for Phoenix. . . . Outfielder Ryan Radmanovich (Pepperdine) hit his 10th home run for Salt Lake City. . . . Former JetHawk outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. hit his fifth home run for Tacoma, Wash. DOUBLE A--Outfielder Jason Evans (Chatsworth) hit his third home run for Birmingham. . . . Designated hitter J.P. Roberge (St. Francis) had his second consecutive three-hit, one-homer game for San Antonio. Roberge has five home runs. CLASS A--Outfielder Will Skett (Reseda, Valley College) had three hits for Dunedin, Fla. . . . Right-hander Keith Evans (Crespi) allowed one earned run in 7 2/3 innings, but lost because Cape Fear, which plays in Fayetteville, N.C., was shut out. . . . Right-hander Brandon Knight (Buena, Ventura College) gave up two earned runs in eight innings for Charlotte, Fla, but lost.

Scanning Saturday box scores: TRIPLE A--First baseman Ryan McGuire (El Camino Real) had four hits for Ottawa. . . . Catcher Jeff Tackett (Camarillo) had two hits, including his third homer, for Oklahoma City. CLASS A--First baseman Eric Gillespie (Northridge) hit his eighth homer and had four RBIs for Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After going hitless in his first 23 at-bats, Gillespie had 25 hits in his next 76 at-bats (.329).