Estes Outduels Stine in 2-1 Albany-Colonie Win over Pioneers
Published on July 31, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
Wednesday, July 31, 2002 -Heritage Park, Colonie, NY
Good friends Eric Estes and Justin Stine dueled Wednesday night at Heritage Park as the Diamond Dogs knocked off the Elmira Pioneers 2-1 in front of 963 fans at Heritage Park.
Both pitchers surrendered 6 hits each over 7 innings of work and the Elmira Pioneers committed some costly base-running errors down the stretch inhibiting their chances to produce the tying run.
Pedro Quero went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and the team's lone RBI. Quero is 11-for-23 in his last 6 games.
Elmira (11-7 / 36-27) has dropped 3 of their last 4 games as the Pioneers finish the month of July with a 17-10 mark.
Estes and Stine were roommates on the road when both were Pioneer players for the past year and a half. Eric Etes was traded to Albany-Colonie in early July for Brandon Pernell. Estes won his Diamond Dog debut against Elmira at Dunn Field on July 8 and improved to 2-0 against his former team with the victory. Estes is 4-1 with the Dogs after going 3-3 with Elmira before the trade.
Stine (5-5) had his personal 4-game win streak snapped despite pitching effectively.
Albany (11-8 / 32-32) got their 2 runs in the 3rd inning. Jason Startari doubled to left-center to lead off the inning. He advanced to 3rd on a couple of ground-outs and Julio Zorrilla brought in on a push bunt single on the 1stbase side. Miguel Vilorio beat out an infield single in the hole at SS and Angel Valdez singled to LF to score Zorilla giving the Diamond Dogs a 2-0 lead.
The Pioneers lone run came in the 4th inning. Rolando Bello singledto CF, stole 2nd and scored on a Pedro Quero single up the middle.
Trailing 2-1 in the 7th, a Pioneers threat would come up empty. Cesar Kingwould singleto LF, his first in 4 games with the Pioneers. Ron Bush laid down a bunt and Estes' throw to 2nd was not in time to get the lead runner. With runners at 1st and 2nd and nobody out Norm Hutchins failed to get the Sac-bunt down and eventually bounced into a fielder's choice with Bush forced at 2nd. Elmira had them on the corners with 1 out and Brandon Pernell hit a line-drive to RF that was got by Angel Valdez who was able to double-off Hutchins at 1st for a DP.
In the 8th. Pedro Quero reached with 2 outs on a booted grounder at 1st by Vic Davila. Brian Jones singled to RF but Quero hesitated rounding 2nd base, possibly thinking the ball had been caught to end the inning. The Diamond Dogs barely threw out Quero at 3rd base to end the inning.
Ron Bush singled off Bill Snyder with 2 outs in the 9th and was able to steal 2nd but Norm Hutchins popped out to end the game as Snyder registered his 7th save.
Norm Hutchins finished the night 0-for-4 and is now 5-for-56 in his last 14 games.
Jef Andra (6-5, 2.97) goes up against Bryan Morse (4-2, 1.90) in a battle of left-handers in the rubber match of the 3-game series Thursday night at 7:05. Andra is 8th in the league in ERA while Morse rates 2nd.
Canadian American League Stories from July 31, 2002
- Jackals Win 5-4 in 9th Inning - New Jersey Jackals
- Camden Downs Atlantic City - Atlantic City Surf
- Black Bears Battle But Lose to Les Capitals - Berkshire Black Bears
- Estes Outduels Stine in 2-1 Albany-Colonie Win over Pioneers - Elmira Pioneers
- Go Ape with the Nashua Pride - American Defenders of New Hampshire
- Black Bears to Host United Way Grand Slam Rally - Berkshire Black Bears
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