Bears Complete Third Straight Walk-Off With Two-Out RBI Single
August 7, 2010 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Newark Bears News Release
Newark, N.J. - Pablo Ozuna laced a two-out single to centerfield in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring Eric Munson with the game-winning run, giving the Newark Bears a 4-3 victory over the Somerset Patriots Saturday night at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.
The win was the third straight walk-off win for the Bears, who won the two prior nights on dramatic home runs.
Munson led off the bottom of the ninth and reached first when Patriots reliever and losing pitcher Tim Lavigne (0-2) hit Munson with his first pitch. Munson was sacrificed to second by Gabe Suarez and after a fly out, Ozuna hit the game-winning single to center. The throw home by Somerset centerfielder Tim Raines, Jr. easily beat Munson at the plate, but a collision at the plate jarred the ball from Patriots catcher Jason Belcher, allowing Munson to score the winning run.
The rally made a winning pitcher out of Derek Blacksher (1-1), who pitched three scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory. Blacksher allowed two hits in his three innings, striking out four, including all three Patriot batters in the ninth inning.
The Patriots scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to take a 3-0 lead. In the second inning, Josh Pressley singled and came around to score on a double play grounder. In the third, Joe Burke doubled and scored on Jeff Nettles' RBI single. In the fourth, Matt Hagen singled and came around to score on a run-scoring single from Jason Belcher.
Somerset had a chance to do more damage in the early innings, but were hurt by two double plays and left six runners on base, four in scoring position.
Patriots starter Brian Adams breezed his way through the first six innings, scattering three singles and striking out a career-best 10 while walking just one.
Lavigne, pitching in his final professional game before becoming the pitching coach at Old Dominion University, replaced Adams to start the seventh inning and Carl Everett, who had three hits, greeted Lavigne with a long homer to right, cutting the lead to 3-1.
After Isaiah Kaaihue walked, Munson hit a two-run homer to right, his third homer in as many games and his fourth with the Bears in just over a week. Munson's blast off Lavigne tied the game at 3-3 and took both starters, Adams for Somerset and Kelvin Villa for Newark, off the hook.
Villa pitched six effective innings for the Bears, allowing three earned runs and eight hits over six innings, walking four and striking out two.
The home stand and series conclude tomorrow as Newark looks for a sweep of Somerset. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m., with the gates of Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium opening at 4:00 p.m. Get to the park early and head down to the field for a pre-game autograph session, presented by PSEG. After the game, fans are invited back to the field to run the bases, during Kids Run the Bases, presented by PSEG. The Bears will also host their Youth Baseball Clinics prior to Sunday's contest, sponsored by Healthfirst Health Plan of New Jersey. The clinics will run from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and are open for children ages 8-16 years old. Family Four Pack Tickets are available for just $50 dollars and can be purchased at the stadium box office or online, using the promo code: 4PACK. Tickets for the game and all upcoming Bears games are available at the Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium box office, by calling (973) 848-1000 ext. 212, or by logging onto www.newarkbears.com, and clicking on the tickets icon on the top of the page.
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Atlantic League Stories from August 7, 2010
- Southern Maryland sinks York - York Revolution
- Empire Angel Jack Henry - Long Island Ducks
- Thompson Dazzles In Barnstormers Win - Lancaster Stormers
- Bears Complete Third Straight Walk-Off With Two-Out RBI Single - Newark Bears
- Kyle Jackson's six strong innings not enough - Long Island Ducks
- Bluefish bullpen strikes out 14 Riversharks; offense rolls - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Joey Gathright Signed - Long Island Ducks
- Bears Stun Patriots with Six in the Ninth - Somerset Patriots
- Ward slams Patriots - Newark Bears
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