Jackals Battle Back Behind Wideman's Career Night
Published on June 15, 2010 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release
Worcester, Mass. - A.J. Wideman fanned a career-high 10 batters without surrendering a walk and the New Jersey Jackals scored seven straight runs after falling behind 3-0 en route to a 7-4 victory on Tuesday night at Hanover Insurance Park.
Wideman (3-1) earned the win after allowing three runs on nine hits over six innings in his fourth start of the season. The southpaw topped his previous career high of nine strikeouts, which he set as a member of the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts in 2005.
The Tornadoes opened the scoring in the top of the first on an RBI single by first baseman Nick Salotti. They added two more runs in the second inning on five consecutive two-out hits, including an RBI single by shortstop Omar Pena and a run-scoring double off the bat of third baseman Chris Colabello, before Wideman shut the door. From the third inning on, Wideman surrendered just two singles.
With New Jersey trailing 3-0, right fielder Quentin Davis's two-run single in the fourth inning got the Jackals on the board. Then in the top of the sixth, the Jackals plated two unearned run aided by a pair of Worcester errors to take their first lead of the game at 4-3. An inning later, left fielder Jacob Butler ripped a leadoff home run to left to give New Jersey a 5-3 advantage. The long ball was Butler's eighth in four games this season.
After right-handers Edward Rodriguez and Mike Pointius each chipped in an inning of scoreless relief, the Jackals added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth on RBI singles by second baseman Argenis Reyes and center fielder Jeff Grose to extend their lead to 7-3.
In the bottom of the ninth, Worcester plated an unearned run against reliever Romas Hicks after shortstop Omar Pena scored following a one-out double after an error by New Jersey shortstop Mike DeJesus. However, Hicks notched three strikeouts in the frame to shut the door in a non-save situation.
Tornadoes' reliever Shawn Gilblair (0-1) took the loss after yielding three runs, one earned, in two innings after rookie starter Matt McDonald gave up two runs on three hits over five frames. Gilblair had not given up a run in seven previous outings. For New Jersey, four players recorded two hits including third baseman Abraham Nunez, Butler, DeJesus, and Davis.
The Jackals and Tornadoes continue their three-game series on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. when New Jersey sends righty Dan Griffin (0-0, 5.74 ERA) to the mound against Worcester rookie right-hander Matt Giusti (1-2, 5.14 ERA) at Hanover Insurance Park. Cody Chrusciel has the live call on the Jackals webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.
Jackal Bites: Kevin Clark's two-out infield single in the top of the ninth extended his hitting streak to nine games... The three-run win marked New Jersey's largest margin of victory this season... The Jackals have won six of their past eight contests... Quentin Davis went 1-for-5 as he returned to the lineup for the first time since May 31 after missing New Jersey's last 11 games with a strained oblique... The Tornadoes committed three errors in the contest, raising their league-leading total to 35 in 17 games... Former Jackal Craig Maddox pinch hit for Gordon Gronkowski in the bottom of the eighth inning and grounded out to short in his second appearance for the Tornadoes... Wideman, who won his third straight start, joins Quebec's Dan Sausville as the only two pitchers in the Can-Am League with three wins.
Canadian American League Stories from June 15, 2010
- Jackals Battle Back Behind Wideman's Career Night - New Jersey Jackals
- Colonials Scuffle in 14-2 Loss to Brockton - Pittsfield Colonials
- Rox Pummel Pittsfield 14-2 - Brockton Rox
- Boucher, Smith Can-Am League Players of the Week - Can-Am
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