Pioneers Shut-Out On The Road For 3rd Straight Loss
Published on June 26, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
Wednesday, June 26 2002 - East Field, Glens Falls, NY
Adirondack RH Derek Santiago fired a complete-game 3-hit shutout and the Pioneers dropped their 3rd straight in a 3-0 decision at the Adirondack Lumberjacks Wednesday night in front 983 fans at East Field.
Santiago (3-2) had allowed 8 runs in his most recent start 6/20 vs. Quebec but he was dominant against the Pioneers with 0 walks and 10 strikeouts, most of which had Elmira hitters swinging at hard sliders. Only 3 Pioneer runners reached base on the evening, 2 of which were erased on the bases on a caught stealing and a double-play. Rod Smith, Ron Bush and Brian Baker had the only hits for Elmira, all singles. Two Pioneers runners were erased from the bases on a caught stealing and a double-play thus Santiago faced only 28 batters in his masterpiece, one more than the minimum for a 9-inning game.
Shigeki Sano (0-1) was matching Santiago zero for zero on the scoreboard through the first five innings limiting Adirondack to only 2 hits. Sano, who was activated earlier in the afternoon, was pitching his first game of the season for the Pioneers. He got in a little bit of trouble in the 6th when an inside fastball grazed Mitsuru Kobayashi on the arm with 1 out. Kobayashi stole 2nd and was bunted up to 3rd by Hiroshi Yamauchi. He scored the first run of the game on a double to left by Eppy Guerrero.
Adirondack scored 2 in the 8th inning off reliever Donnie Thomas. Yamauchi received a 2-out walk. Thomas picked off Yamauchi at 1st but the speedy runner was able to hustle to 2nd as the throw from Sandy Vasquez arrived into the Bobby Hill's glove at the same time. The ball bounced away and Yamauchi was credited with a stolen base. Eppy Guerrero lined a double down the LF line bringing inYamauchi increasing the Lumberjacks advantage to 2-0.
Julio Perez replaced Donnie Thomas and Lorenzo De La Cruz hit a sharp grounder that glanced off the glove of 3B Osmani Garcia who couldn't make the back-hand pick. Garcia was charged with an error as Guerrero crossed the plate to increase the lead to 3-0.
Sano is a 34-year-old native of Ehime, Japan who was 6-6, 2.66 in his first season with the Pioneers in 2001. Sano previously spent parts of 8 seasons in the Japanese Major Leagues with Kinetsu and Seibu. Sano was in the Dodgers spring camp this past March as part of their AA working group but was let go at the end of spring training. He signed on with the Devil Rays and was loaned to the Mexico City Tigres where he went 0-2 in 5 games before he returned to Elmira. Sano had been working out with the Pioneers for the past several weeks but was not activated onto the roster until today.
The Pioneers had only 3 hits, all singles on the night. Rod Smith singled in the 1st, Ron Bush singled in the 4th and Brian Baker singled in the 9th. Santiago retired 14 straight between the 4th and 9th innings. Smith made it to 3rd base in the 1st inning on a sb and catcher's throwing error. He was the only Pioneer to advance past 1st.
If New Jersey extends their win streak to 10-games with a victory over Allentown then the Pioneers will be 4 games behind the division leaders with only 13 games remaining in the 1st half pennant race. New Jersey comes to Dunn Field for a 3-game series July 2-4.
The Pioneers will try to salvage the finale of the series Thursday night at 7 as LH Sean Brummet (4-1, 1.48) takes the hill. Brummet is 2nd in the league in ERA. RH Bobby Cowan (3-0, 5.05) is the starter for the Lumberjacks.
Elmira heads to Quebec for a 3-game series Friday through Sunday.
The Pioneers return home Tuesday, July 2nd on Toshiba Fireworks Night.
Canadian American League Stories from June 26, 2002
- Pioneers Shut-Out On The Road For 3rd Straight Loss - Elmira Pioneers
- Sano Takes Hill Tonight For Pioneers - Elmira Pioneers
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