Pioneers Force 5th Game with 9-8 Thriller Over New Jersey
Published on September 7, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
The Elmira Pioneers forced a 5th and final game of their divisional playoff series with a pivotal 5-4 win in game 4 of the Northern League Divisional Series at Dunn Field in Elmira, NY. Game 5 will pit Greg Keagle against Joel Bennett Sunday afternoon at 1:05 in a rematch of game 1 which NJ won 3-0 in a fine pitcher's duel. Bennett and NJ beat Keagle and Elmira 8-5 in game-5 of the East Finals in 2001. Bennett has also defeated Keagle twice in the regular season including a 4th of July encounter at Dunn Field which was the Jackals only win in Elmira.
Rafael Alvarez, Cesar King and Ron Bush hit HR's to highlight the Pioneers attack as Elmira out-hit NJ 14-10 in the wild game.
The season series is tied at 9 games apiece between the two teams and has been dominated by the home club. NJ is 1-8 at Dunn Field this year and the Pioneers went 1-8 at Yogi Berra Stadium.
Elmira jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first couple innings. Alvarez hit a solo HR in the 1st and Michael Coleman and Pedro Quero followed with back to back doubles off Jeremy Callier to make it 2-0 in the 1st.
Cesar King hit a solo HR in the 2nd to increase the lead to 3-0.
NJ hit 4 straight singles of Shigeki Sano in the 4th to cut the score to 3-1. Travis Bailey followed with a grand-slam to right-center to give New Jersey a 5-3 lead.
The lead was short-lived however as Elmira rallied for 3 runs in the bottom of the 4th to knock Callier out of the game. Cesar King singled and eventually came around to score on a single to CF by Brandon Pernell. Pernell stole 2nd and advanced to 3rd on a throwing error by catcher Mikaela Dworken on the play. Ron Bush walked putting runners on the corners. Callier made way for Steve Fish who surrendered a 2-run double to right-center plating Pernell and Bush and giving Elmira the lead for good.
The Pioneers built on their 6-5 lead in the 6th on a 2-run HR to LF by Ron Bush to make it 8-5. Elmira scored again in the 7th as Brian Jones doubled, moved up on a ground-out and scored a Sac-Fly by Osmani Garcia to up the advantage to 9-5.
NJ made in interesting in the 8th. Justin Stine was beginning his 5th inning of relief work and hit Chas Terni with a pitch. David Kennedy hit a one-out single. Stine made way for Chris Brown who gave up a 2-out walk to Travis Bailey to load the bases. Billy rich delivered a single to CF that got past Brandon Pernell for an error. Bush got 2 rbi's on the play and Bailey was able to score all the way from 1st on the E8. With the tying run at 2nd base brown got Dworken to pop-out on the infield to 2B Ron Bush to end the threat.
Donnie Thomas hit a batter in the 9th but closed it out for his 2nd straight playoff save. Billy Brown was plunked with 1 out but was gunned down by Brian Jones trying to steal.
Canadian American League Stories from September 7, 2002
- Pioneers Force 5th Game with 9-8 Thriller Over New Jersey - Elmira Pioneers
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