9th inning rally comes up short as Pioneers fall back 2 games to 0 in playoffs
Published on September 5, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
The New Jersey Jackals extended their lead in the best-of-5 divisional playoffs to 2 games to 0 with a 2-1 win in game 2 at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, NJ.
After being shutout through the first 17 innings of the post-season, the Pioneers rallied in the 9th to cut into a 2 run deficit but left the tying and go-ahead runners on base as Cesar King bounced out hard to 3rd to end the game as Ryan Kane's very good play kept the Pioneers from tying the score.
Jeff Andra fired a terrific complete-game performance in the losing cause. He surrendered a 2-run HR to David Kennedy in the 1st inning and then proceeded to retire the next 13 batters in a row as well as 22 of the last 24 batters from the 1st inning on as NJ would never threaten again.
In the 9th, trailing 2-0, Ron Bush lead off with a single up the middle and Rafael Alvarez worked a walk out of Mike Bertotti. New Jersey replaced Bertotti with former Elmira closer Ryan Halla who induced a hard-hit 6-4-3 double-play ball off the bat of former big leaguer Michael Coleman. Pedro Quero singled to CF to drive in Bush from 3rd base and get the Pioneers on the board. Brian Jones beat out a slow roller on the left side of the diamond for an infield single to keep the rally alive but the Pioneers stranded 2 runners on the bases as Cesar King's smash to 3rd was smothered by Ryan Kane on a fine play and turned into a force-out of Jones at 2nd base.
NJ's only scoring came in the 1st inning. Dave Callahan doubled down the LF line. And David Kennedy blasted a 2-run HR to deep LF to give the Jackals a 2-0 lead. The only other NJ base-runners for the rest of the night came on singles in the 6th and 8th innings. Otherwise, Andra was moving through the Jackals batters quickly racking up 9 strikeouts with 0 walks in the process.
Elmira out-hit NJ 7-5 on the night.
New Jersey went 62-27 in the regular season to set a Northern League East record for wins. Elmira had the 2nd best record in the leage at 54-36.
Elmira went 1-8 at Yogi Berra Stadium this season including losses in the post-season.
NJ went 1-6 at Dunn Field this season. The series comes back to Elmira for game-3 in a do-or-die night for the Pioneerrs Friday at 7:05. The Pioneers will put the ball in the hands of Jackson Crowther (6-8 / 1-1) to try to continue the season. Aaron Myers will start for New Jersey (11-6).
If Elmira can win to force a game-4 it would take place Saturday night at Dunn Field at 7:05. Game-5 would be Sunday afternoon at 1:05.
Dollar-Days concessions specials will highlight the post-season with dollar specials on sodas, hot-dogs and Friendly's Sundae Ice-Cream Cups.
Canadian American League Stories from September 5, 2002
- Jackals Edge Elmira, 2-1, Take 2-0 Series Lead - New Jersey Jackals
- Surf Rout Road Warriors 13-1 - Atlantic City Surf
- 9th inning rally comes up short as Pioneers fall back 2 games to 0 in playoffs - Elmira Pioneers
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