Pioneers Drop Heartbreaker 5-4 at Albany-Colonie
Published on June 11, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
The Pioneers fell just short of overcoming an early 5-0 deficit but their comeback efforts fell just short in a 5-4 setback to the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs.
Two errors by LHP jeff Andra (3-1) allowed the Dogs to score 5 unearned runs in the 1st inning. Juan Espinal laced a 2-run single to start the rally and increase his season RBI total to 20, 2nd in the NLEast. Carlos Sepulveda's rbi double and Aaron Sledd's rbi single also highlighted the inning. Andra went on to spin 7 strong innings scattering 7 hits with 0 bb's and 5 K's allowing the Pioneers the opportunity to comeback. He gave up only 3 hits in the 2nd through 6th innings and retired 9 straight at one point as well as 13 of 14.
But the Pioneers would nip away at the lead beginning with Norm Hutchins' 2-run HR in the 3rd inning off Trevor Marcotte (1-0). Hutchins 2nd of the year made it 5-2. Bobby Hill broke up a double-play earlier in the inning with a hard slide at 2nd to make the 2-run HR possible.
Pedro Quero blasted a double to left in the 5th to drive in Ron Bush who had also doubled to trim the margin to 5-3. Osmani Garcia lined out hard to SS with runners at 1st and 2nd to end the inning.
Elmira made it a 1-run game in the 8th as Rafael Alvarez drew a walk against LH Bryan Morse. Then, with RH closer Mike Cosgrove on, Alvarez stole 2nd and then advanced to 3rd as Sandy Vasquez hit a ground-ball that was mishandled by SS Yoshi Hirosawa for the 4th Diamond Dog error of the game. Bobby Hill laced a single up the middle off the glove of Hirosawa to drive in Alvarez nd push Vasquez to 3rd but Rod Smith popped out to end the inning.
In the 9th, Ron Bush singled and represented the tying man on basew but Norm Hutchins popped out and Albany-Colonie closed it out with a strike-him-out-throw-him-out double-play as Pedro Quero whiffed and Ron Bush was tagged out trying to steal 2nd on a very close play.
For the Pioneers, it is their 3rd loss in their last 4 games and drops their overall record to 10-7. Albany-Colonie has won 3 of their last 4 games to even their mark at 9-9.
Pioneer RH Eric Estes (1-1, 7.59) goes up against Dogs LH Mark Lavenia (1-2, 2.00) in the 2nd game of the 7-game road trip Tuesday night at 7:05 at Heritage Park. LH Sean Brummet will start the Wednesday game.
Canadian American League Stories from June 11, 2002
- Estes Spins 3-hit Shutout Gem in 5-0 win at Albany - Elmira Pioneers
- Quebec Pitching Does in Black Bears - Berkshire Black Bears
- Pioneers Drop Heartbreaker 5-4 at Albany-Colonie - Elmira Pioneers
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