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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals Sweep Rox in Doubleheader to Clinch Playoff

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


Little Falls, N.J. - The New Jersey Jackals clinched a playoff spot for the third straight season on Monday night, sweeping the Brockton Rox in a twin bill at Yogi Berra Stadium. With their pair of victories, the Jackals have now won 11 of their last 12 games and have secured at least a wild card spot in the playoffs, which begin September 7.

In the first game of the day, the Jackals held off the Rox, 5-3, in the continuation of a game that was suspended by rain on Saturday morning.

Brockton jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a Keith Brachold sacrifice fly in the top of the first and a run-scoring single by Dan Barbero in the second. New Jersey tied the game in the bottom of the second inning, plating two runs against former Jackal Mike Petrowski on a Nick Giarraputo sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Mike DeJesus.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, the skies opened up and forced the tarp onto the field, pushing the rest of the game to Monday evening.

When play resumed, Brockton took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning on an errant pickoff throw by Jared Locke. In the bottom of the frame, New Jersey took advantage of four straight walks to begin the inning by Jake Loye, tying the contest at four when Sandy Madera drew a bases-loaded free pass. An RBI single by D'Angelo Jimenez later in the inning gave New Jersey a 4-3 lead before the Jackals capped the scoring in the sixth on a Bryan Sabatella RBI single.

Locke (6-1) allowed one unearned run while working the fifth inning to pick up the win while Loye (3-6) absorbed the loss. Jeff Gogal pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his 15th save of the season.

In the nightcap, the Jackals fell behind early before plating the game's final five runs to pick up a 5-1 win.

As the Jackals stranded five runners in scoring position through the game's four innings, Brockton opened the scoring in the third when starter Jon Kibler doled out a pair of two out walks before Keith Brachold knocked in his Can-Am League-leading 76th run of the season to give the Rox a 1-0 lead.

New Jersey finally broke through against Brockton starter Julian Sampson in the fifth inning, pushing across four runs to swing the momentum. Sean Smith laced a one-out triple and scored on a Sabatella double to even the score at 1-1. Two batters later, a Madera sacrifice fly gave the Jackals a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, two more runs came across when Brockton second baseman Mike Torres misfired a flip to second base trying for an inning-ending fielders' choice to extend the New Jersey advantage to 4-1.

The Jackals capped the scoring in the sixth when Smith drew a one-out walk, stole second, and later scored on a fielders' choice off the bat of Myron Leslie to make it 5-1.

Jon Kibler (3-5) turned in his third straight quality start to notch his third straight win, allowing one run on two hits over 5 2/3 innings. Jackals' reliever Kyle Gunderson retired all four batters he faced to secure his second save. Sampson (9-4) was tagged with the loss.

The Jackals continue their final homestand of the regular season on Tuesday night when they welcome the Newark Bears to Yogi Berra Stadium for the opener of a three-game series at 7:05 p.m. In the series opener, New Jersey will send southpaw A.J. Wideman (6-2, 2.85 ERA) to the mound looking for his seventh straight win while Newark counters with right-hander Pedro Rivera (0-1, 7.45 ERA). Cody Chrusciel has the call on the live webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

JACKAL BITES: New Jersey starting pitchers have allowed three earned runs or less in each of the team's last 15 games... The Jackals have won six straight contests.

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 August 29, 2011


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