Pioneers Remain Perfect Against Berkshire in 7-2 Victory
July 16, 2002 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
Tuesday, July 16, 2002 - Wahcohnah Park, Pittsfield, Mass.
The Pioneers improved to 7-0 against the Berkshire Black Bears this season in a 7-2 victory Tuesday night at Wahcohnah Park in Pittsfield in the opener of a 7-game road trip. Elmira has outscored Berkshire 53-10 in the season series and has won all 7 games by at least 4 runs or more.
The Black Bers looked more like the Bad News Bears as they committed 6 errors on the night, all of which played roles in Pioneer runs.
Manager Mitch Lyden was ejected by 1B umpire Tim McCaffery for arguing check swings. The game was delayed for 23 minutes due to the sunset in center-field. Sun delays happen a few times per season at the old ball-park built before night baseball.
Elmira is 3-1 in the 2nd half and 28-21 overall. Berkshire falls to 1-3 in the 2nd half and their overall record is an NLE worst 15-34.
Brian Jones led the way for the Pioneers going 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Brandon Pernell launched his first home-run as an Elmira Pioneer and Norm Hutchins went 3-for-5 with a double, an rbi and a run scored.
LH Jeff Andra (6-4) recorded his 2nd straight win firing 7 innings allowing just 1 earned run on 5 hits. Andra has won back to back starts right off his 1-4 stretch through June.
Former big league Curtis Goodwin had a pair of infield singles for the Black Bears to extend his hitting streak to 22 games.
Goodwin singled and moved to 2nd on a Ron Bush throwing error to begin the game. After he was bunted to 3rd he scored on an infield single by Ender Gonzalez giving the Black Bears the initial 1-0 advantage.
Brandon Pernell tied it in the top of the 3rd inning launching a solo HR to LF off RH Brian Gouin (3-4).
Elmira scored a pair of runs in the 5th with Brian Jones starting the rally with a double to left-center. With 2 outs, Brian Baker singled to RF. Jones was going to stop at 3B as RF mike Moore gunned the ball home, but catcher Scott Allen fired it back down to 2nd trying to get Baker advancing on the throw. The ball was mishandled by SS Luis Mercedes for an E6 allowing Jones to score. Norm Hutchins singled home Baker giving the Pioneers a 3-1 lead.
Berkshire scored in the bottom of the 5th with Curtis Goodwin extending the inning reaching with 2 outs on a dropped 3rd strike wild-pitch wen Jeff Andra's slider got away from Brian Jones.
Leading 3-2, the Pioneers would score 2 times in the 6th taking advantage of 3 Black Bear errors. Ron Bush reached on a botted grounder by 3B Joe Kerrigan Jr. Rafael Alvarez single to RF advancing Bush to 3rd. Pedro Quero's Sac-Fly brought home Bush for his team leading 31st RBI of the season giving the Pioneers a 4-2 lead. Alvarez took 2nd base on the throw home trying to get Alvarez and advanced to 3rd o an errant pick-off attempt by pitcher Gouin. Brian Jones was intentionally walked placing runners at 1st and 3rd. Osmani Garcia tried to lay down a suicide squeeze but Gouin fielded the one-hopper cleanly and would have gotten an out at home on Alvarez had catcher Scott Allen not dropped the ball for the inning's 3rd error. Elmira scored 2 in the 5th and 2 in the 6th on 5 total Berkshire errors in building their lead to 6-2.
The final run came in the 9th inning with Norm Hutchins leading off with a single to RF. Rolando Bello replaced him on a fielder's choice and stole second. He scored when Ron Bush's ground ball was juggled and thrown wildly away by SS Luis Mercedes for the team's 6th error of the night.
Wednesday night LH Sean Brummett (5-2, 2.27) goes up against Berkshire RH Jackson Crowther (5-2, 2.37) in a matchup of staff aces currently placing 4th and 5th in the circuit in ERA.
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Canadian American League Stories from July 16, 2002
- Errors Plague Black Bears - Berkshire Black Bears
- Pioneers Remain Perfect Against Berkshire in 7-2 Victory - Elmira Pioneers
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