Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Franchise-Record Five Homers Help Jackals Take Series

June 19, 2011 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Pomona, N.Y. - The New Jersey Jackals tied a franchise record by hitting five home runs as they defeated the Rockland Boulders 10-4 on Sunday evening at Provident Bank Park in the rubber game of the three-game series.

Designated hitter Mike Jones and left fielder Jeremy Slayden each left the ballpark twice while right fielder Leonard Davis homered for the third time in the past two days. Jones narrowly missed his third homer of the day when he flew out to the right center field wall in the ninth inning. Shortstop Mike DeJesus, who did not homer, chipped in with three singles while center fielder Chris White singled twice and stole his team-leading ninth base of the year.

Leading 1-0 after loading the bases with no outs in the first inning and opening the scoring on a Myron Leslie sacrifice fly, the Jackals extended their lead to 5-0 in the third inning on a Davis RBI double and a three-run homer to right off the bat of Jones.

Rockland got on the board in the third inning when New Jersey starter Shaun Ellis walked Deybis Benitez, who then stole second and advanced to third on a Leslie throwing before scoring on Sean Smith RBI single to make it a 5-1 contest. However, solo home runs by Jones and Slayden with two outs in the fifth extended the Jackals' lead to 7-1.

A two-run single by Cristobal Santana in the bottom of the sixth inning chased Ellis from the game and a Ray Stokes RBI double off reliever Mike Pontius later in the frame cut the Rockland deficit to 7-4, but the Jackals' bullpen held the rest of the way and New Jersey tacked on three runs in the ninth on a two-run homer from Davis and Slayden's second blast of the evening to cap the scoring.

In his first start since being re-acquired from the El Paso Diablos on June 6, Ellis (2-0) earned the win after allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits over 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out six batters and allowed just two hits through the first five innings. Rockland starter John Muller (0-2) took the loss after surrendering seven runs on seven hits in five innings.

The Jackals return home to begin a five-game series with the Can-Am League's travel team, the New York Federals, with a Monday night doubleheader scheduled to begin at 4:35 p.m. at Yogi Berra Stadium. Cody Chrusciel and Matt Sutor have the call on the live Jackals webcast beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com

Jackal Bites: Twice before in franchise history have the Jackals launched five home runs in one game: July 18, 1998 at Adirondack and July 28, 1999 at Massachusetts... Rockland right fielder Tommy Giles was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the bottom of the fourth inning... Of the 21 batters that struck out in the game, 11 went down looking... Pitcher Bobby Blevins batted for the Boulders in the bottom of the eighth inning after pinch hitter John Fitzpatrick had to come out of the game with a hand injury.

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. 2011 single-game tickets, season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.

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Canadian American League Stories from June 19, 2011


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