Pioneers Held Scoreless for 2nd time on Road Trip
Published on June 29, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
Elmira dropped a 7-0 decision at the Quebec Capitales Saturday night in front of 3,812 fans. The Pioneers were held to only 3 hits as Quebec LH Joe Thomas (3-2) went the distance with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. Thomas also helped his own cause by picking off 3 Pioneer base-runners.
The Pioneers could fall to 6 games off the pace if New Jersey wins their 13th straight tonight against Allentown. There are just 10games remaining in the first half but the Pioneers do have a 3-game series coming up with 1st place New Jersey Tuesday through Thursday at Dunn Field.
Elmira is 1-4 on the road-trip and has dropped 5 of their last 6 games. The Pioneers fell to 19-16 with the loss, the closest they have been to .500 since they were 12-9 on 6/13.
Quebec has won 5 straight and improved to 23-11 overall. They hold a 4.5 game lead in the North Division pending the outcome of Saturday night's Adirondack game.
Quebec scored in 6 straight innings to finish the game with single runs in the 3rd through 6th innings followed by 2 in the 7th and 1 more in the 8th. Quebec entered the game with the league's top bating average at .298 and added 9 more hits on the night.
It was the 3rd time this year the Pioneers have been shutout and the 2nd time on this road-trip. The Pioneers were also 3-hit this past Wednesday evening by Derek Santiago at Adirondack.
Eric Estes (3-3) was charged with 6 runs, 5 earned in 6 innings of 7 hit ball in the losing cause. He walked none and had 1 K and also hit a batter.
The Capitales took advantage of sloppy play in the 3rd for an unearned run to begin the rout. With 1-out Raul Marval's high-pop to left-center fell between LF Brian Baker and CF Rod Smith on an apparent miscommunication. Smith was charged with an error and Marval landed at 2nd base. He advanced on a ground-out and scored with 2 outs when Benoit Emond's grounder got through 1B Luke Syfert for the 2nd error of the inning.
Brian Cornelius singled and scored on a 2-out double by Eric Kofler to right-centerin the 4th.
Kison singled with 1 out in the 5th. He advanced on a single to the LF corner by Emond and scored on a Sac-Fly to CF by Rafael Pujols.
In the 6th, Eric Kofler drilled a solo HR to right with 2 outs to make the score 4-0. It was the 6th HR of the year for Kofler.
Quebec chased Estes out of the game when Marval was hit by a pitch leading off the 7th and Robbie Kison beat out an infield single on a comebacker inadvertly deflected away by Eric Estes. Donnie Thomas reliever Estes. Emond bunter the runners up to 2nd and 3rd and Rafael Pujols singled to CF to drive in both runs making the score 6-0. Both runs were charged on Estes' line.
Against Jordan Griswold in the 8th, Eddie Lantigua doubled off the wall in the right-center and scored on consecutive groundouts to finish the scoring.
The Pioneers were again playing without several of their top players as Pedro Quero, Rafael Alvarez and Osmani Garcia are all missing the series for various reasons.
The Pioneers hope to salvage the series finale Sunday at 1:05 with LH Jeff Andra (4-3, 1.86) going up against Quebec's Tim Stanton (4-1, 3.98)
The Pioneers have a day off monday before resuming action Tuesday night vs. New Jersey at Dunn Field on Toshiba Fireworks Night at 7:05.
This series is a homecoming of sorts for manager Mitch Lyden who starred as a catcher for Les Capitales in their inaugural season of 1999 when he bashed out 14 HR's.
Canadian American League Stories from June 29, 2002
- Pioneers Held Scoreless for 2nd time on Road Trip - Elmira Pioneers
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