Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals Drop First-Ever Regular Season Meeting at Newark

May 29, 2011 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Newark N.J. - Myron Leslie doubled, homered, and scored a pair of runs, but the New Jersey Jackals fell to the Newark Bears, 4-3, in the first-ever regular season meeting between the two Garden State rivals on Sunday afternoon at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

In his Newark Bears debut, Hillsborough native Eric Eden allowed just two runs (one earned) over 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Jackals' starter A.J. Wideman surrendered four runs on eight hits over five innings and took the loss.

Newark right fielder Danny Santiesteban, who last year with the Worcester Tornadoes hit seven of his 14 home runs against the Jackals, finished the contest 3-for-3 with a double. Santiesteban opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single, the Bears third single of the frame, to plate center fielder Tim Raines Jr. with the game's first run.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Jackals scored a pair of runs to take their first lead of the day. New Jersey tied the game at one on back-to-back doubles by left fielder Leonard Davis and Leslie to begin the inning. Later in the frame, Leslie scored on a throwing error by Bears' third baseman Todd Gossage to give the Jackals a 2-1 advantage. However, Newark evened the score at two in the bottom of the fourth when Santiestaban doubled and scored on an RBI single by shortstop Jeff Toth.

The Bears plated a pair of runs in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of designated hitter Kyle LaMotta and a Wideman wild pitch to make the score 4-2. The Jackals pulled within one on Leslie's first home run of the season in the top of the eighth and then moved the potential tying run into scoring position when right fielder Jeremy Slayden doubled off the wall in right with two outs in the ninth, but Newark reliever Mikey Mehlich escaped the jam to secure the victory for the Bears and notch his first save of the season.

In the loss, a trio of Jackals' relievers turned in three scoreless frames. Phil Bartleski hurled a perfect sixth inning, Jared Locke turned in 1 1/3 scoreless frames, and Steve Fox retired both batters he faced after entering with two on and one out in the bottom of the eighth.

Offensively for New Jersey, Slayden finished 2-for-3 while left fielder Leonard Davis doubled and scored a run.

The Jackals are off on Monday, but they will return to the field on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. for their 2011 home opener against the Newark Bears. In that contest, New Jersey will send southpaw Isaac Pavlik (1-0, 1.50 ERA) to the mound against Newark left-hander Alex Smith (first start). Cody Chrusciel and Matt Sutor have the call on the live webcast, beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

Jackal Bites: Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium and Yogi Berra Stadium, the Jackals' home venue, are separated by just nine miles... Prior to the contest, New Jersey relievers had allowed eight runs in eight innings this season... Centerfielder Chris White's fifth-inning bunt single snapped an 0-for-15 streak by New Jersey leadoff hitters to begin the season... Second baseman Argenis Reyes was pinch hit for by Dan Betteridge in the third inning after Reyes was spiked in the shin attempting to turn a double play in the second inning.

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 May 29, 2011


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