Pioneers Swept at New Jersey Jackals
Published on August 3, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
Saturday, August 3, 2002 -Yogi Berra Stadium, Little Falls, NJ
The New Jersey Jackals lengthened their 2nd half South Division lead to 6 games with their 9th and 10th consecutive wins holding off the Pioneers 4-3 and 3-2 Saturday night at Yogi Berra Stadium in front of 3283 fans.
The Jackals improved the league's best record to 48-18 and have now won 18 of their last 19 games as well as 40 of their last 50. NJ is 6-3 against Elmira this year.
The Pioneers are 1-4 at Yogi Berra Stadium this season.
Steve Fish (7-3) outpitched Sean Brummett (6-4) in the opener in a 4-3 final. Brummett took his 2nd loss in a row even though he allowed just 3 hits to the Jackals. Former Pioneer closer Ryan Halla closed out the 1st game and recorded his 7th save of the season since joining the Jackals a little less than a month ago.
Mike Bertotti and Chris Chavez limited the Pioneers to a season low 2 hits in the 2nd game as Shigeki Sano (1-3) took his 2nd consecutive losing decision. Brandon Pernell scored both runs including hitting a solo HR in the 6th inning, his 5th since joining the Pioneers a month ago.
NJ scored 3 runs in the 2nd in a frame that began with back to back hit batters as David Kennedy and Ryan Kane both got plunked in the lower leg on sliders that got away. League RBI leader Travis Bailey walked to load the bases. Mikaela Dworken hit a Sac-Fly to CF to bring in Kennedy. DH Todd Johannes grounded out with the runners holding at 1st and 3rd. Jack Lipoari beat a 2-out infield single allowing Kane to score giving NJ a 2-0 lead. Craig Conway singled to LF scoring Bailey to complete the 3-run rally.
The Pioneers got the runs right back in the top of the 3rd with their own 3-run rally. Norm Hutchins ended a 5-for-56 skid with a bunt single to spark the team. Ron Bush doubled off the top of the wall in the LF corner as he again just missed hitting his 1st HR of the season. Jeremy Brostrom hit a Sac-Fly to LF to score Hutchins from 3rd. Brandon Pernell doubled in the LF corner to bring around Bush to close the gap to 3-2. With 2 outs, Rafael Alvarez hit a chopper over the pitcher's head the glanced off the glove of 2B Craig Conway for an error allowing Pernell to come around and tie the game.
New Jersey's last hit in the 3rd proved to be the game winning hit. Dave Kennedy reached when SS Ron Bush threw one high over 1B Pedro Quero. Travis Bailey socked a 2-out double in the gap in left-center to score Kennedy giving the Jackals a 4-3 lead. For Bailey it was his 58th RBI of the season, most in the NLE.
The Pioneers had the potential tying runner gunned down at the plate in the 6th. Pedro Quero reached on an infield single in the 6th with 1 out. Chris Chavez replaced Steve Fish. Osmani Garcia grounded out and with 2 outs Norm Hutchins singled sharply to RF. Quero tried to score from 2nd but was pegged by RF Travis Bailey.
The Pioneers went down in order in the 7th as former Elmira closer Ryan Halla recorded his 7th save since joining New Jersey a little less than a month ago.
In the 2nd game, the Pioneers struck 1st but lost for only the 3rd time in 29 tries when taking the initial lead.
In the 1st, Brandon Pernell drew a lead-off walk against Mike Bertotti (9-4). He stole 2nd and smartly took 3rd base afterthe throw by Ryan Kane across the diamond on a Ron Bush groundout to 3rd. Pernell scored on a Rafael Alvarez rbi groundout.
Shigeki Sano (1-3) surrendered a double to the LF corner by Dave Kennedy in the 2nd. Ryan Kane walked and Travis Bailey hit a long fly-out to CF to advance Kennedy to 3rd. Mikaela Dworken grounded out to Ron Bush as the Pioneer SS made a terrific play on a slow chopper but Kennedy scored to tie the game at 1-1.
Sano was able to keep the game tied at 1-1 in the 3rd working out of a tough jam. NJ loaded the bases with nobody out and had their top batters up including the top 2 RBI leaders in the league Ryan Kane (2nd) and Travis Bailey (1st). dave Kennedy popped out, Kane hit into a fielder's choice with 3B Osmani Garcia getting the force at home, and Bailey bounced out to end the threat.
NJ took the lead in the 4th with Dworken leading off with a triple to left-center. Todd Johannes singled to RF to scored Dworken breaking the deadlock. Lipari bunted Johannes to 2nd. Craig Conway doubled to right-center scoring Johannes giving NJ a 3-1 lead.
Rafael Alvarez singled in the 4th and Brandon Pernell hit a solo HR in the 6th to account for both Pioneer hits in the game. Pernell's solo HR to LF made it 3-2. It was Pernell's 5th since joining the Pioneers exactly 1 month ago and his 7th overall this season.
Brian Jones drew a 2-out walk in the 7th from Chris Chavez but PH Rolando Bello bounced out to end the game.
Greg Keagle (5-8) starts against the league's top pitcher Joel Bennett (11-1) Sunday afternoon at 2:05 in the road trip finale. It is also the last game before the 3-day all-star break. The Pioneers have dropped their last 8 consective day games all of which having come on Sundays. GregKeagle is 0-2 against Joel Bennett this season in the battles of the team's respecitve player / pitching coaches. Elmira returns to Dunn Field next Thursday night doing battle with the Allentown Ambassadors in the 1st of a 3-game series and 6-game homestand.
Canadian American League Stories from August 3, 2002
- Jackals Sweep Doubleheader, Win 2nd Game 3-2 - New Jersey Jackals
- Pioneers Swept at New Jersey Jackals - Elmira Pioneers
- Jackals Take First Game of Doubleheader, 4-3 - New Jersey Jackals
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