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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals road woes continue

August 20, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Worcester, MA - The New Jersey Jackals managed just one hit over the first seven innings against Worcester Tornadoes starter Junior Guererro before erupting for four runs in the eighth, but Worcester hung on for the 7-4 victory on Wednesday night at Hanover Insurance Park. The loss, New Jersey's 18th in their last 20 contests away from Yogi Berra Stadium, combined with a Sussex win against Quebec places the Jackals seven games out of a playoff spot with12 games remaining in the regular season.

The Tornadoes offense wasted no time scoring as they struck Jackals left-hander Jorge Acosta for two runs in the bottom of the inning. RF Scott Grimes led off with a walk and CF BJ weed reached on an error by 3B Chris Kelly to place runners on first and second with no outs. After a groundout, LF Francisco Caraballo singled home Grimes and Weed to make it 2-0 Tornadoes. Worcester plated their third run of the game in the second inning when 2B Omar Pena scored on a single by Grimes. In the third, the Tornadoes kept the offense going with three more runs in what would prove to be Acosta's final inning. Worcester 1B Chris Colabello led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Caraballo before scoring on a double down the first base line by C Alex Trezza to make it 4-0. SS Chuck Jeroloman followed with a double to right field to give Worcester a 5-0 advantage before an RBI single by 3B Mike MacMillan made it a 6-0 contest.

The Jackals offense finally jumped to life in the top of the eighth inning. After managing just one hit through seven innings against Guerrero, New Jersey plated four runs while chasing Guerrero from the game. RF Billy Kovatch got the rally started, smacking his first home run of the season to right field with Kelly aboard to cut the Jackals deficit to 6-2. Later in the inning, 2B Bryant Nelson doubled over the head of Weed in center to plate two more runs and make it a 6-4 game. However, that was as close as the Jackals would come.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Tornadoes added some insurance when Caraballo launched his team-leading 18th home run of the season deep to left center to extend Worcester's lead to 7-4. In the top of the ninth, Worcester reliever Eddie Pena retired the Jackals in order to notch his eighth save of the season. Guerrero's line doesn't do him justice as the Worcester right-hander allowed four of his five hits and all four runs in the eighth inning. While earning the victory, Guerrero (7-5) struck out four batters while walking three. For the Jackals, Acosta (1-4) took the loss after surrendering six runs - five earned - on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts in three innings of work. In the defeat, New Jersey's bullpen allowed one run in five innings as Ryan Pacyna tossed three shutout innings and Nick Martin retired all three batters he faced in the seventh. Justin Barnes surrendered the Caraballo leadoff home run in the eighth before striking out the next three batters.

For the Jackals, Kovatch had a successful night at the plate, collecting two hits in three at bats. Caraballo paced the Tornadoes offense, going 3-3 with three RBIs.

The Jackals and Tornadoes meet for the final time during the 2008 regular season tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. when New Jersey right-hander Ted Serro (4-3, 3.55 ERA) takes the hill against Worcester southpaw Tom Cochran (13-1, 2.31 ERA). Follow the Jackals on the road by tuning in to the team's live webcast at www.jackals.com to catch every inning of action. Cody Chrusciel provides the play-by-play with the broadcast beginning ten minutes prior to first pitch. The Jackals return home on Friday night to open up their final homestand of the season when they begin a three-game set against the Brockton Rox with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch at Yogi Berra Stadium.

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