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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Pavlik Pitches Jackals to Second Straight Series Sweep

July 28, 2010 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, NJ - Veteran southpaw Isaac Pavlik turned in his third straight dominant outing on the mound as the New Jersey Jackals won their sixth straight contest to sweep their second consecutive series by a score of 4-1 over the Brockton Rox on Wednesday.

Pavlik (6-3), the reigning Can-Am League Pitcher of the Week, allowed one run on five hits in seven innings of work with six strikeouts and no walks. In 22 2/3 innings over his last three starts, Pavlik has surrendered just two runs (a 0.79 ERA) while posting a 17-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

With Brockton rookie Jose Aquino making his first professional start and just his ninth career appearance, Jacob Butler's team-leading 11th home run of the season leading off the second inning gave the Jackals an early 1-0 advantage. An inning later, 1B Jabe Bergeron deposited a two-out RBI single into shallow center field just out of the reach of Brockton SS Dominic Ramos's diving effort to make it 2-0 New Jersey. The Jackals built a 3-0 lead when 2B Travis Jones lifted a fifth-inning sacrifice fly following a leadoff single by SS Dan Betteridge and a pair of passed balls.

The Rox broke through against Pavlik in the top of the sixth when DH Melvin Falu roped a one-out double to left before coming plateward later in the frame on a grounder off the bat of RF Keith Brachold to cut the Brockton deficit to 3-1, but New Jersey CF Adam Godwin cracked a solo home run to left in the bottom of the seventh against Buster Lussier to help the Jackals regain a three-run lead and cap the scoring at 4-1.

After allowing three runs in the top of the ninth inning last night to send the game into extra innings, New Jersey closer Romas Hicks returned to his dominating form on Wednesday as he mowed down the Brockton side in order in the final frame behind a pair of strikeouts to notch his league-leading 13thsave of the season. Southpaw Edgar Estanga tossed a scoreless eighth against Brockton, his third shutout relief appearance of the series, to bridge the gap between Pavlik and Hicks.

Despite turning in a quality start, Aquino (0-1) took the loss after yielding three runs on eight hits over six innings.

Offensively, New Jersey 3B Abraham Nunez went 2-for-3 while drawing his league-leading 42nd walk of the season. Nunez finished the three-game series 7-for-12 at the plate. Godwin scored twice in a 2-for-3 outing that included his first homer in a Jackals uniform while LF Jeff Grose and Bergeron each collected a pair of singles.

The Jackals continue their seven-game homestand on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. when the welcome the Pittsfield Colonials to Yogi Berra Stadium to begin a four-game weekend set. New Jersey will send 25-year-old right-hander Chris Vasami (1-0, 2.45) to the mound for his first professional start in the series-opener. Cody Chrusciel has the live call on the Jackals webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

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. 2010 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.

Jackal Bites: The trio of New Jersey pitchers (Pavlik, Estanga, and Hicks) struck out nine batters without surrendering a walk in the contest... The Jackals turned two double plays, bringing their league-leading total to 57 in 55 games... After getting swept in a three-game series at Worcester last week to begin the second half, the Jackals have won back-to-back three-game sets against Sussex and Brockton to extend their season-long winning streak to six straight games. New Jersey didn't record a sweep in the first half.

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