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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals Topple Colonials, Take 2-0 First-Round Lead

September 10, 2011 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, N.J.

- Trailing early, the New Jersey Jackals scored the game's final eight runs to notch an 8-2 victory over the Pittsfield Colonials in game two of their best-of-five first-round Can-Am League playoff series on Friday night at Yogi Berra Stadium. With the victory, the Jackals took a 2-0 lead in the series and are one win away from advancing to the Can-Am League Championship Series to take on the Quebec Capitales, who swept the Brockton Rox in the other first-round matchup on Friday.

With A.J. Wideman on the mound looking to win for the eighth consecutive start, Pittsfield plated a pair of first-inning runs on a one-out single by cleanup hitter Angel Molina. Those were the only two runs the Colonials would muster, however, as Wideman and a pair of relievers combined to allow just three hits the rest of the contest.

Wideman earned the win for the eighth consecutive start, yielding two runs on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts over six innings. Steve Fox contributed a scoreless seventh inning before Josh Ellis slammed the door by striking out four batters over two perfect innings of relief.

Trailing 2-0, the Jackals closed the gap in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Sandy Madera to make it a 2-1 contest.

New Jersey used a pair of third-inning runs to tie the game and take their first lead of the day. With one out, Myron Leslie stroked an RBI double to score Sean Smith, who led off with a single and advanced to second on a Bryan Sabatella sacrifice bunt, and tie the game at two. Two batters later, D'Angelo Jimenez popped up to shallow center and the ball dropped between three Pittsfield defenders to allow Leslie to scamper home to give the Jackals a 3-2 edge. New Jersey never trailed after that point.

Can-Am League Rookie of the Year Patrick Moran started for Pittsfield and suffered his first loss since July 10 after allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings. Moran, who went 11-3 during the regular season, had won seven straight decisions entering the night.

A solo home run to right center by Kris Sanchez in the bottom of the fifth inning extended the Jackals' lead to 4-2. In the seventh, the Jackals loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly off the bat of Mike DeJesus made it a 5-2 contest.

With Colonials' closer Mike Zenko on in the eighth inning, New Jersey capped the scoring with three runs to open up a commanding 8-2 lead. Back-to-back doubles by Smith and Sabatella to open the frame made it 6-2. After Leslie was intentional walked, Madera singled to right to give the Jackals a 7-2 lead. Later in the inning, the Jackals scored their final run when Mike Richard grounded out with the bases loaded.

Five different Jackals collected two hits apiece as New Jersey outhit Pittsfield by an 11-5 margin. Madera drove in two runs, Sanchez doubled and homered, Leslie collected his third extra-base hit of the series, and Smith swiped a pair of bases and scored twice.

The Jackals and Colonials play game three of their best-of-five series on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. when New Jersey sends southpaw Jon Kibler (3-6, 6.03 ERA) to the mound against left-hander David Qualben (7-7, 3.91 ERA) at Yogi Berra Stadium. The Colonials will serve as the home team for games three and four (if necessary). Cody Chrusciel has the call on the live webcast beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

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Canadian American League Stories from September 10, 2011


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