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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals Bullpen Shines, But Brockton Sweeps Series To Clinch Playoff Spot

September 4, 2011 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Brockton, Mass. - On the final day of the regular season, the New Jersey Jackals (57-36 overall, 30-16 second half) stranded a season-high 16 runners on base as the Brockton Rox came away with a 6-2 victory to sweep the three-game series and clinch a playoff spot on Sunday afternoon at Campanelli Stadium.

The Brockton win eliminates the Worcester Tornadoes from playoff contention and finalizes the four-team Can-Am League playoff field. The second-seeded Jackals will host the Pittsfield Colonials while the Rox travel to top-seeded Quebec to take on the Capitales with both series beginning Wednesday night. New Jersey can clinch the second-half title outright with a Worcester win at Quebec on Sunday or Monday.

New Jersey's bullpen was dominant in the loss with Josh Ellis, Jeff Gogal, Steve Fox, and Kyle Gunderson combining to fire 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

Freddy Flores, who was named Brockton's starting pitcher just before the contest, picked up his first win since August 5. The 37-year-old veteran right-hander came off the disabled list and allowed two runs on six hits over five innings, striking out six batters and walking a pair.

Making a spot start in place of A.J. Wideman, who will start game two of the playoffs, Kearny native Jairo Mendez allowed the first two batters of the game to come around and score before settling down and retiring nine of the next 10 Brockton hitters he faced. The Rox opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Chris Valencia led off with a single and scored on an RBI triple off the right field wall by Mike Torres. A Keith Brachold sacrifice fly gave the Rox a 2-0 lead at the end of the first.

New Jersey broke through against Flores in the top of the second. After Chris Anderson lined a one-out single and Jordan Newton reached on an error by Brockton third baseman Phillip Cuadrado, shortstop Mike Richard singled Anderson home to cut the Jackals' deficit to 2-1.

Brockton put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth, plating four runs to chase Mendez from the game and open up a 6-1 advantage thanks to RBI singles by Shaun Williams, Dominic Ramos, Chris Grossman, and Valencia.

The Jackals capped the scoring in the fifth inning when Bryan Sabatella walked and later came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of D'Angelo Jimenez.

The Jackals threatened in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs to bring the tying run up to bat, but' Brockton closer Jake Hale induced a game-ending fielders' choice off the bat of Richard to help the Rox clinch a playoff birth.

In the loss, Anderson contributed his first three-hit game of the season, finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored while stealing his first base of the year. Sandy Madera and Jordan Newton each finished with two hits for the Jackals as starting catcher Myron Leslie and third baseman Nick Giarraputo got the day off.

Mendez, a 27-year-old right-hander out of Montclair State University, surrendered six runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings of work in his first professional outing since June 22, 2010.

The Jackals have two days off before opening up the first round of the 2011 Can-Am League Playoffs on Wednesday night against the Pittsfield Colonials at Yogi Berra Stadium. The Jackals will send southpaw Isaac Pavlik (13-3, 2.73 ERA) to the mound in the playoff opener. Cody Chrusciel has the call on the live webcast beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

JACKAL BITES: New Jersey finishes the season 8-5 against Brockton... The Jackals, who entered the three-game series on a 10-game winning streak, were swept for the first time this season... New Jersey left a season-high 16 runners on base including 10 in scoring position. The Jackals stranded multiple runners on base in seven different innings... A leadoff single by Melvin Falu in the eighth inning ended Kyle Gunderson's string of 22 consecutive batters retired to begin his tenure with the Jackals... Rookie Zach Woods, Sunday's originally-scheduled starter for the Rox, will now pitch Brockton's playoff opener on Wednesday night.

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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