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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Lobban Pitches Worcester To Game One Win Over Jackals

September 9, 2009 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Worcester, MA - Defeat is a dish best served cold - so temperatures hovering in the low 50's at Hanover Insurance Park on Wednesday evening only seemed appropriate. The New Jersey Jackals came out revved up for the 2009 playoffs, scoring a run in each of the first two innings off of Worcester Tornadoes starter Ryan Lobban, but the left-hander buckled down and pitched shutout baseball over the next five frames. When it was all said and done the Jackals found themselves in a 1-0 hole in the opening round of the Can-Am League playoffs, falling to the Tornadoes by a final of 7-3.

With all-star left-hander A.J. Wideman on the mound, the Jackals offense was working early to give the Ontario native a cushion in his first postseason start. Right fielder Myron Leslie gave New Jersey the first run of the ballgame with an RBI-single in the first and second baseman Marcus Sanders made it a two-run game in the very next inning with an RBI-single of his own. Lobban (1-0) would then shut the door, allowing just two base runners over the next five frames, at one point retiring 12 consecutive batters. By keeping the Jackals offense at bay, Lobban gave his offense time to go to work on Wideman (0-1).

Left fielder Alex Pena got the Tornadoes on the board in the third inning with a solo home run to left field. The Worcester offense continued to chip at the Jackals, tying the game in the fourth on an RBI-single from right fielder Carlos Sosa. Up until that point all seemed to be manageable but Worcester - the only team to hand Wideman a loss during the regular season - was just priming for the later innings.

In the fifth, Worcester shortstop Mike MacMillan grounded in center fielder Lucas Taylor from third base after Taylor laced a triple to right. The very next batter, third baseman Chris Colabello, did his best Pena impression by crushing his own home run to left to make it a 4-2 contest.

The Jackals would get as close as 5-3 in the top of the eighth inning after an RBI-single from designated hitter Chris Garcia, but the Tornadoes would quickly put the idea of a comeback out of reach in the bottom half of the frame. With right-hander Seth Overbey now on the mound in relief, Worcester go back-to-back RBI-singles from second baseman Jeff LaHair and Taylor to set the final score. Taking no chances even with a four run lead, Worcester sent closer Anthony Sullivan to the mound in the ninth; he pitched a scoreless inning to end the game.

New Jersey and Worcester will continue their best-of-five series tomorrow night with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. The Jackals will give the baseball to veteran left-hander Isaac Pavlik in game two, while the Tornadoes will counter with right-hander Chris Farley. Joey Whelan will have the live call of the game at www.jackals.com with the pre-game show starting 10 minutes prior.

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. Playoff and regular season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434 or visiting www.Jackals.com.

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Canadian American League Stories from September 9, 2009


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