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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Clark Carries Jackals Past Tornadoes

June 21, 2010 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, NJ - Right fielder Kevin Clark reached base five times and extended his hitting streak to 15 games as the New Jersey Jackals held off a late Worcester Tornadoes' rally to secure a 6-5 win and snap their four-game skid on Monday night at Yogi Berra Stadium.

Clark, who went 3-for-3 from the leadoff spot, singled three times and walked twice as he scored three of New Jersey's six runs. On the mound, Jackals' starter Dan Griffin (2-0) struck out seven batters while surrendering three runs on seven hits in five innings to secure his second straight win.

Trailing 6-4, the Tornadoes rallied for a run against Jackals' closer Romas Hicks in the top of the ninth on a two-out RBI double from designated hitter Nick Salotti, but with runners on first and second, Hicks fanned right fielder Rick Asadoorian to secure the Jackals' win and notch his league-leading eighth save.

For the second time in six days, Worcester starter Matt Giusti was roughed up by the Jackals. Giusti (1-4) yielded six runs, four earned, on nine hits over six frames to fall for the fourth time in five starts.

After the teams traded runs in the first inning, New Jersey plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead. A third inning solo home run by designated hitter Shawn Riggans gave New Jersey a 4-1 advantage before the Tornadoes used back-to-back one-out singles in the top of the fourth by left fielder Billy Cather and shortstop Omar Pena to pull within one at 4-3. New Jersey extended its lead on a two-out RBI single by left fielder Jordan Newton in the fourth before second baseman Argenis Reyes doubled home Clark with an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-3.

In the top of the seventh, newly-acquired Jackals' reliever Edgar Estanga surrendered a solo homer to right field off the bat of catcher Alex Trezza as the Tornadoes cut their deficit to 6-4. Estanga, a southpaw whose flight landed in New Jersey less than two hours before he took the mound, retired six of the seven batters he faced including three strikeouts. Mike Pontius chipped in a scoreless sixth inning out of the bullpen for New Jersey as well.

The Jackals (11-12) and Tornadoes (8-15) continue their three-game series on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. at Yogi Berra Stadium when New Jersey sends right-hander Nick Asselin (1-3, 5.84 ERA) to the mound for his fifth start of the season while Worcester counters with ace John Kelly (2-0, 2.41 ERA). Cody Chrusciel has the live call on the Jackals webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

Jackal Bites: Former Jackal and current New York Mets reliever Raul Valdez threw out the game's ceremonial first pitch while wearing his old number 26 home pinstripe uniform... After seven straight games in the seventh spot in the Jackals' lineup, Argenis Reyes went 2-for-5 out of the second slot in the New Jersey order... New Jersey is now 3-1 against Worcester this season.

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Canadian American League Stories from June 21, 2010


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