Bergeron Stays Hot as Jackals Split Twinbill with First-Place Quebec
Published on July 10, 2010 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release
Quebec City, QC - First baseman Jabe Bergeron went 4-for-4 and reached base in all six plate appearances as the Jackals split a doubleheader with the first-place Quebec Capitales on Saturday night at Stade Municipal. The Jackals held off a late five-run Quebec rally in game one to snap a four-game skid and end the Capitales' six-game winning streak with a 6-5 win before a 3-for-3 performance by designated hitter Sebastian Boucher carried Quebec to a 4-2 victory in the nightcap.
In game one, Jackals first baseman Jabe Bergeron opened the scoring with a one-out solo home run in the top of the second against Quebec starter Michel Simard. The home run, which gave New Jersey a 1-0 lead, was Bergeron's team-leading seventh of the season and marked his fourth homer in a seven at-bat span over the past three contests. All of Bergeron's team-high seven homers this season have come with the bases empty.
In the top of the fourth, the Jackals used three base hits past a drawn-in Quebec infield to plate five runs and take a commanding 6-0 lead. The five-run frame equaled the Jackals' largest single-inning outburst this season. However, the Capitales put up a five spot of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 6-5 and chase Jackals' starter Ryan Lobban from the contest.
From there though, the Jackals bullpen held Quebec off the scoreboard with Mike Pontius and Edgar Estanga setting up closer Romas Hicks for a two-out save, his tenth of the season. Pontius (1-2) was credited with the win after striking out three of the five batters he faced while Simard (3-3) surrendered six runs on five hits in the loss.
In the nightcap, Quebec starter Matthew Rusch, whose 2.14 ERA entering the contest was the lowest in the Can-Am League, allowed two runs over six innings to earn the win and improve to 6-0.
Quebec took an early 2-0 advantage against Isaac Pavlik in the bottom of the second inning on a bases-loaded walk by catcher Marc Mimeault and an RBI infield single off the bat of second baseman Josh Colafemina. But New Jersey struck back in the top of the second on back-to-back two-out RBI singles by second baseman Abraham Nunez and designated hitter Shawn Riggans. Quebec regained a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third when center field Goefrey Tomlinson led off with a single, was doubled to third by Boucher, and scored on an RBI groundout off the bat of left fielder Alex Nunez. The Capitales tacked on an insurance run in the fifth to make it 4-2 on a two-out infield single by third baseman Robert Wagner.
Pavlik yielded four runs on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Quebec closer Andrew Albers allowed a leadoff single to Kevin Clark in the seventh, but struck out the next three batters to end the contest and notch his fourth save of the season.
The Jackals (16-25) are off on Sunday before returning to Little Falls to begin a six-game homestand on Monday at 7:05 p.m. against the Sussex Skyhawks at Yogi Berra Stadium. In the series opener, New Jersey will send left-hander A.J. Wideman (3-4, 3.97) to the mound against Sussex right-hander Jusef Frias (1-2, 5.85). Cody Chrusciel has the live call on the Jackals webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.
Jackal Bites: The Jackals were 0-4 against Quebec this season before their game-one victory... Quebec shortstop Ivan Naccarata extended his hitting streak to nine games with two hits in the early contest and one hit in the nightcap... Quebec is now 19-4 when scoring first.
Canadian American League Stories from July 10, 2010
- Tornadoes Thump Rox, 12-5, in Series Finale - Brockton Rox
- Can-Am League Recap - Can-Am
- Bergeron Stays Hot as Jackals Split Twinbill with First-Place Quebec - New Jersey Jackals
- Sussex Dumped by Pittsfield in Series Finale - Sussex Skyhawks
- Carte Breaks League Hitting Streak Record, Colonials Win 10-7 - Pittsfield Colonials
- Boelsen Leads Skyhawks To First Walk-off Win - Sussex Skyhawks
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