Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals Use Big Sixth Inning to Rally Past Tornadoes

June 12, 2011 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, N.J. - Trailing 4-1, the New Jersey Jackals sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning and scored six runs en route to a 7-6 victory over the Worcester Tornadoes in the rubber match of a three-game series on an overcast Sunday afternoon at Yogi Berra Stadium.

After Tornadoes starter Matt Smith turned in five solid innings in his best outing of the season, the Jackals jumped on the Worcester bullpen in the sixth. Against rookie Michael Gedman and Ryan Walfield, the Jackals poked six singles and took advantage of three free passes to take their first lead of the day.

With Jackals' closer Jeff Gogal on in the ninth inning trying to complete the four-out save, Worcester used an Alex Trezza hit by pitch, a double by Ryan Crespi and an RBI groundout off the bat of Alex Nunez to pull within one. The Tornadoes advanced Crespi to third and moved the go-ahead run to second, but Gogal slammed the door when Chris Colabello went down looking at a slider to end the game.

In front of a season-best crowd of 3,707 fans in Little Falls, the teams exchanged runs in the first inning. For Worcester, Chris Colabello lifted his second home run of the season over the left field scoreboard. But the Jackals countered when Argenis Reyes scored on an RBI infield single by Mike Jones.

The Tornadoes tacked on a run in the fourth on a Ryan Kulik wild pitch before striking for two more in the sixth on run-scoring hits by Colabello and Mark Minicozzi to open up a 4-1 lead before the Jackals' sixth-inning rally.

Neither starter factored in the decision with Kulik surrendering three runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings in his second start with the Jackals. New Jersey reliever Shaun Ellis (1-0) picked up the win while Gedman (0-1) took the loss. Gogal notched his third save in as many attempts.

Offensively, the Jackals' 10-hit attack was paced by Mike Jones who had two singles, two RBIs and scored a run while Leonard Davis added two hits, a run and an RBI. Overall, eight Jackals notched at least one hit.

The Jackals continue their eight-game homestand on Monday when they welcome the Pittsfield Colonials (6-8) to Yogi Berra Stadium. In the opener of the four-game series, New Jersey sends right-hander Chris Vasami (1-1, 7.94 ERA) against Pittsfield righty Patrick Moran (1-1, 4.26 ERA). Cody Chrusciel and Matt Sutor have the call on the live Jackals webcast beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com

Jackal Bites: The Jackals have allowed a first-inning run in 10 of 16 games this season... The Jackals now lead the all-time series against Worcester, which began in 2005, 46-45... With his two RBIs, Jones has recorded an RBI in four straight games... Davis extended his hitting streak to eight consecutive games

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 June 12, 2011


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