Pioneers Come From Behind for 6th Straight Win
Published on August 26, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
Monday, August 26 - Bicentennial Park, Allentown, Penn.
The Elmira Pioneers overcame a late 3-1 deficit to win their road-trip opener and stay ahead of Adirondack in the wildcard race. the 5-3 victory at Allentown extends Elmira's winning streak to 6 straight, the longest of the season. It also improves Elmira's overall record to 49-35 placing the Pioneers at 14 games over .500 for the first time this season.
Brandon Pernell doubled in the 6th and singled in the 7th to extend his hitting streak to 23 games. That ties New Jersey's Billy rich for the longest hitting streak in the league this season. Cesar King went 3-for-4 with a run and an rbi in his first game in 5 days.
Elmira has collected 10 or more hits in 7 consecutive games.
Allentown falls to 24-59, 2nd worse record in the league. Elmira is 9-2 against the Ambassadors.
The game was the only played in the league Monday night thus the Pioneers lead Adirondack by 1 game in the wildcard race and hold a 5 game lead over Alany with 6 games remaining. Adirondack leads Albany by 1 game in their divisional race and will not qualify for wildcard contention if they win their division. Elmira trails New Jersey by 4 games with 6 remaining so the Jackals magic number to clinch the 2nd half South divisional title holds at 3. New Jersey can clinch the 2nd half if they sweep their series vs. Berkshire this week.
Elmira rallied for 2 runs in the 6th inning and 2 runs in the 8th for the come-from-behind victory against Allentown knculeballer Joe Gannon (4-7).
Donnie Thomas (2-0) inherited a bases-loaded 1-out jam when he replaced Sean Brummett in the 7th inning. He was able to keep the score tied at 3-3 with a strike-out of Stephen Larkin and ground-out by Ryan Bordenick on a terrific play deep in the hole by SS Ron Bush that robbed the Ambassadors of a run. Chris Brown closed it out in the 9th inning for his 1st save of the year. He hit a batter with 2 outs but recorded his 2nd strike-out on Josh Carter to end the game.
Sean Brummett took a no-decision for the Pioneers lasting 6.1ip allowing 8h, 3er, 1bb, 4k. Gannon for Allentown went 8ip, 11h, 5er, 3bb, 0k.
Trailing 3-1 in the 6th, Brandon Pernell would extend his hitting streak and spark a 2-run rally with a double into the LF corner. Following a walk of Ron bush, Rafael Alvarez singled to right-center scoring Pernell to cut the deficit to 3-2. Michael Coleman bounced into a 6-4-3 double-play but Bush was able to score from 3rd on the twin-killing to the game at 3-3.
After Thomas got out of the bottom of the 7th bases-loaded jam thanks to the stellar play by Bush, the Pioneers were able to touch up Gannon for a couple more runs to take a 5-3 lead. Alvarez drew a lead off walk and Coleman singled to LF. Alvarez advanced to 3rd on Pedro Quero's fly-out to RF and Alvarez scored on a Sac-Fly to RF by Brian Jones to give Elmira a 4-3 lead. Mike Terhune singled coleman up to 3rd and Cesar King's 3rd hit of the game was into CF to score Coleman. Elmira had taken an initial 1-0 lead in the 3rd on a Rob Bush rbi triple to the left-field corner scoring King who had singled.
Allentown tied the score on an unusual steal of home. With runners at 1st and 3rd, Sean Brummett threw to 1st on a pick-off attempt of Josh Carter. On the lob to 1st, Schuyler Doakes took off from 3rd and was able to slide in ahead of the throw home from 1B Pedro Quero on a close play. Carter advanced on a wild-pitch and scored on a Ryn Bordenick double to right-center giving Allentown a 2-1 advantage.
The ambassadors stretched the lead to 3-1 in the 4th inning with Jay Hood reaching on a single, advancing to 3rd on a Matt Johnson double and scoring on a Doakes Sac-Fly to RF.
Elmira starts LH Justin Stine (6-5, 3.93) for game-2 of the 4-game road series Tuesday at 7:05. Allentown is expected to counter with RH Bake Leonards (2-8, 5.91). Elmira closes out the regular season this Friday through Sunday with a potentially critical 3-game set vs. the Albany-colonie Diamond Dogs.
Canadian American League Stories from August 26, 2002
- Pioneers Come From Behind for 6th Straight Win - Elmira Pioneers
- Surf Split Doubleheader With Ducks - Atlantic City Surf
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