Pedro Quero's 9th Inning HR Lifts Pioneers 5-3 at Berkshire
Published on July 18, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
Thursday, July 18, 2002 - Wahcohnah Park, Pittsfield, Mass.
Pedro Quero launched a 2-run HR in the top of the 9th inning breaking a 3-3 tie in a thrilling 5-3 victory at Wahcohnah Parh in Pitssfield, Mass in front of 1462 fans Thursday evening. The win completes a sweep of the 3-game series vs. the Berkshire Black Bears. Elmira is 9-0 vs. Berkshire as they improve to 5-1 in the 2nd half also having won 7 of their last 8.
Julio Perez fired a perfect 9th inning for his 11th save. He maintains a 0.00 ERA through 18.2ip. Rafael Alvarez hit a solo bomb earlier in the game for his 6th long-ball of the season in the 4th inning.
Chris Brown (1-0) worked the 8th inning for his first decision of the season.
Berkshire falls to 1-5 in the 2nd half and 15-36 overall. Both marks are the worst in the NLE.
Berkshire scored an unearned run with help from to Elmira errors in the 2nd inning. 3B Osmani Garcia and SS Bobby Hill both let grounders get through as Shigeki Sano fell behind 1-0 early.
Rafael Alvarez homered off LH Dallas Mahan in the 4th to tie the score at 1-1.
The Pioneers took the lead with 2 runs in the 7th. Pedro Quero singled up the middle and scored on a triple to right-center by Brandon Pernell. A couple batters later, Brian Jones brought in Pernell with a lopped single barely to the outfield grass over the drawn in Berkshire infielders on the right side.
The 3-1 Elmira lead would not last long as Berkshire got them back in the bottom of the 7th. Chris Sawyer hit a solo HR to left (his 3rd) to close the gap to 3-2. Luis mercedes singled up the middle. Shigeki Sano made way for LH donnie Thomas. Jerome Daniels bunted Mercedes to 2nd and then Nelson Samboy doubled to right-center tying the game at 3-3.
Berkshire left runners stranded at 3rd base in the 7th and 8th innings setting the stage for Quero's heroics in the 9th. Rafael Alvarez drew a walk from LH reliever Ken Henderson (1-4). Quero turned on a 3-0 pitch and drilled it deep over the left-center field wall to win the game. Elmira loaded the bases with nobody out after that as Pernell walked, Garcia singled and Jones walked. But reliever Greg Mackoul kept the Black Bears in the game by striking out Brian Baker inducing a fielder's choice off the bat of Bobby Hill with Pernell forced at home and then getting Norm Hutchins to groundout.
But the 2-run cushion was enough for Perez who stretched his scoreless innings streak again with his 2nd consecutive evening tossing a 1-2-3 9th frame.
Elmira heads to Brockton for a 4-game series Friday through Monday. All games at Brockton are scheduled for 7:11 except for the Sunday afternoon game which is slated for 2:05.
Greg Keagle (4-6) toes the rubber Friay night night at Campanelli Stadium against the Rox.
Elmira returns home Tuesday night trying to stay perfect against Berkshire as they begin a 6-game homestand.
Canadian American League Stories from July 18, 2002
- Black Bears Battle But Lose Third Straight - Berkshire Black Bears
- Pedro Quero's 9th Inning HR Lifts Pioneers 5-3 at Berkshire - Elmira Pioneers
- Surf Edges Nashua - Atlantic City Surf
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