Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Hurlers Lead Jackals to Doubleheader Sweep over Skyhawks

Published on June 29, 2010 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, NJ - Starters Ryan Lobban and Isaac Pavlik both turned in solid outings on the mound as the New Jersey Jackals swept a doubleheader against the Sussex Skyhawks on Tuesday evening at Yogi Berra Stadium. The Jackals won the opener 7-3 behind a three-RBI game by shortstop Mike DeJesus before they held off the Skyhawks for a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.

In game one, the Jackals built a 6-0 lead as Sussex starter Dan Berlind struggled with his command early.

New Jersey, which served as the visiting team in its home venue in the make-up of a June 13 rainout, plated four runs in the top of the first inning aided by a trio of walks. Second baseman Argenis Reyes lifted his second home run in his last two contests, a two-run shot to right center following a leadoff walk by right fielder Kevin Clark. The Jackals tacked on two more runs to make it 4-0 on an RBI groundout off the bat of third baseman Abraham Nunez and a passed ball. A two-out, two-run double by shortstop Mike DeJesus in the fifth extended New Jersey's advantage to 6-0.

The Skyhawks cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run blast by shortstop Chase Fontaine and a solo homer by designated hitter Caleb Stewart, which chased Lobban from the contest. But New Jersey reliever Mike Pontius stopped the bleeding by recording the final five outs while the Jackals added an insurance run on a DeJesus sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

Pontius recorded his second save of the season while Lobban (2-1) surrendered three runs on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk to earn the victory. Berlind (1-1) allowed six runs, four earned, while walking six batters in five innings to take the loss.

In game two, Pavlik and Skyhawks starter Tim Stringer carried a pitchers' duel into the bottom of the fourth inning before the Jackals broke through against the former Montclair State University hurler with a pair of two-out RBI singles by Nunez and first baseman Jovan Rosa and a wild pitch to take a 3-0 lead.

The Skyhawks scored an unearned run against Pavlik in the fifth when second baseman Joe Persichina was hit by a pitch before coming around on an error by DeJesus to make it a 3-1 contest. Then in the top of the seventh with New Jersey closer Romas Hicks on the mound, Persichina laced a leadoff triple to center just out of the reach of a diving Kevin Clark before scoring on a two-out double by left fielder Kraig Binick, but Hicks escaped the jam to preserve the Jackals seventh one-run victory of the season and nail down his league-best ninth save of the year.

Pavlik (3-1) won for the third time in as many starts after allowing one unearned run over six innings of two-hit baseball. The southpaw struck out four and walked just one. Stringer (2-1) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in four frames.

The Jackals and Skyhawks continue their five-game series on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at Yogi Berra Stadium when New Jersey southpaw A.J. Wideman (3-3, 4.32) takes the mound against Sussex right-hander Mike Vicaro (1-0, 3.00). Cody Chrusciel has the live call on the Jackals webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

Jackal Bites: The start of game one was delayed 90 minutes while the teams waited for the umpires to arrive... Sussex served as the home team in the first game, which served as the make-up for the rainout between the Jackals and Skyhawks at Skylands Park in Augusta, NJ on June 13. The game was played at Yogi Berra Stadium because the teams are not scheduled to meet again at Sussex until the second half of the season.

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Canadian American League Stories from June 29, 2010


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