Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals outlast Rox in series opening win

Published on August 3, 2009 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Brockton, MA - In a game in which the momentum seesawed back and forth, the New Jersey Jackals defeated the Brockton Rox 7-5 at Campanelli Stadium on Monday Night.

Early on the story was the strong pitching on the part of Jackals starter Stewart Pomeranz and Brockton's Freddy Flores. Through five innings, Pomeranz allowed just two runs on five hits, highlighted by a leadoff home run off the bat of Rox third baseman Phillip Cuadrado in the bottom of the third inning. The home run was Cuadrado's fifth and gave Brockton an early 1-0 lead.

The Jackals were held in check by Flores until the top of the sixth inning when shortstop Mike DeJesus blasted a three-run home run to right field after designated hitter Quinn Stewart had walked and first baseman Myron Leslie singled. The home run was the fourth of the season for DeJesus and upped his RBI total to six in his last four games.

From there the game became a slugfest with eight runs scoring over the final three and a half innings of the ballgame. Brockton plated a run in the bottom of the sixth after back-to-back doubles by first baseman Clyde Williams and left fielder Palmer Karr. In the seventh, New Jersey scored a pair of runs to take a 5-3 lead. After center fielder Zack Smithlin laced a single and promptly scored when second baseman Marcus Sanders ripped a triple. The next batter was left fielder Ryan Rogowski who deposited a run-scoring single that brought in Sanders.

Refusing to go down without a fight, the Rox would tie the game again in the bottom half of the inning when with a runner on and two out, catcher Chris Grossman blasted a home run to deep right field, his second of the season, tying the game again at 5-5.

The Jackals would push ahead for good with two more runs in the top of the eighth inning. Third baseman Mike Scanzano blasted a one-out double to put a runner in scoring position. Center fielder Billy Kovatch then blooped single to left field that was misplayed by Brockton left fielder Palmer Karr, allowing Scanzano to score and Kovatch to advance to second on the error. After Kovatch advanced to third on a passed ball, Sanders lifted a fly ball to center that allowed the final run for New Jersey to tag and score.

After Seth Overbey pitched a scoreless eighth inning, New Jersey got a bit of a scare in the bottom of the ninth inning when Brockton designated hitter Jud Thigpen lifted a first pitch fastball from Jackal closer Rusty Tucker to deep left and out of the park for a home run. Tucker would settle down and retire the next three in a row to earn his 18th save of the season, tops in the Can-Am League.

Overbey (3-4) earned the win for New Jersey as he was the pitcher of record in the eighth when the Jackals pushed ahead for the final time, while Brockton right-hander Stevie Delabar (2-3) took the loss after allowing the two New Jersey runs in the eighth.

The Jackals flexed their muscles, ripping six extra-base hits, including a double and a triple by Sanders who went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.

New Jersey will be back in action tomorrow in game two of the series with Brockton at Campanelli Stadium. Left-hander Isaac Pavlik will take the ball for the Jackals, facing Rox left-hander Fraser Robinson. Joey Whelan will have the live call of the game at www.jackals.com. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. with the pre game show starting 10 minutes prior.

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Canadian American League Stories from August 3, 2009


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