Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Bullpen picks up slack

Published on June 27, 2009 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, NJ - The New Jersey Jackals bullpen tossed 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball as the Jackals defeated the Worcester Tornadoes 5-3 on Saturday night at Yogi Berra Stadium.

With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, a two-out ground ball off the bat of Jackals designated hitter Quentin Davis snuck through the legs of Worcester first baseman Chris Colabello, enabling catcher Matt Lauderdale to score the go-ahead run against Tornadoes starter Alex Pena. New Jersey added an insurance run later in the frame on a passed ball to take a 5-3 lead. The error was Colabello's 14th in 29 games this season and the only error by either team in the contest.

For the fourth consecutive game against New Jersey, the Tornadoes grabbed an early lead when Colabello doubled home shortstop Garrett Olson in the top of the first inning to give the Tornadoes a 1-0 lead against Jackals' starter Dave Qualben. However, the Jackals countered immediately, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first to gain a 3-1 advantage as right fielder Myron Leslie and first baseman Juan Tejeda laced back-to-back RBI singles and center fielder Billy Kovatch lifted a sacrifice fly.

A third-inning leadoff home run by Worcester catcher Alex Trezza pulled the Tornadoes within one at 3-2 before second baseman Jeff LaHair tied the game with a one-out RBI single. That score held until the sixth.

Qualben lasted just 2 2/3 innings in his shortest start of the season after allowing three runs on four hits with four walks and a strikeout. New Jersey relievers Romas Hicks, Ted Serro and Seth Overbey held the Tornadoes scoreless until the ninth, when Jackals' closer Rusty Tucker entered and hurled a perfect frame to notch his ninth save of the season. Serro (4-1) earned the win in his first relief appearance of the season. The loss went to Pena (2-3), who surrendered five runs - three earned - on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings.

Offensively for New Jersey, second baseman Marcus Sanders reached base in all four trips to the plate after getting hit by a pitch in the first inning and drawing three walks. Lauderdale chipped in with a 2-for-3 night at the dish. For the Tornadoes, right fielder Carlos Sosa went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles while Salotti finished 2-for-3 with a double in the losing effort.

With the win, the Jackals improve to 19-10 and regain a four-game lead on the second-place Tornadoes with 18 games remaining in the first half. The loss drops Worcester to 15-14.

The Jackals and Tornadoes conclude their five-game weekend series on Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. at Yogi Berra Stadium when New Jersey sends left-hander A.J. Wideman (3-0, 2.32 ERA) to the mound for his sixth start of the season against Worcester southpaw Zach Zuercher (1-3, 4.13 ERA). In his last start on Tuesday night in Quebec City, Wideman came within five outs of a perfect game against the Capitales. Cody Chrusciel and Joey Whelan have the call with the live webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

The New Jersey Jackals, proud members of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, play their home games at Yogi Berra Stadium located on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ. 2009 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.

Check out the New Jersey Jackals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Canadian American League Stories from June 27, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central