Pioneers Win Thriller 6-4 in Game 3
Published on September 6, 2002 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Elmira Pioneers News Release
Pedro Quero hit a 3-run HR in the 1st inning and the Pioneers held on in an exciting back-and-forth ball-game for a 6-4 win in game 3 of the divisional playoffs Friday night at Dunn Field. Quero finished with 4 RBI's on the night. Elmira never trailed but New Jersey kept closing the gap in an exciting evening of baseball in front of an electric crowd of over 1,400.
Ryan Kane hit a 2-run HR to highlight the New Jersey attack.
LF Rafael Alvarez had a key play in the top of the 7th with a magnificent throw home gunning down Dave Callahan trying to score from 2nd on a single.
The win was Elmira's first of the post-season and cuts New Jersey's lead in the best-of-5 series to 2 games to 1.
After Quero's 3-run HR in the 1st, NJ bounced right back with a run in the top of the 2nd as Travis Bailey tripled just beyond the reach of Michael Coleman in RF and scored on a single up the middle by Billy Rich.
Kane's 2-run HR off Jackson Crowther in the 4th inning cut the lead to 4-3.
Elmira pushed the advantage to 5-3 in the 5th inning on reliever Chris Humrich as Ron Bush walked, stole 2nd and advanced on a throwing error by catcher Mikaela Dworken, and scored on a single to LF by Pedro Quero.
New Jersey got the right back in the top of the 6th to close the gap to 5-4 as Billy Rich singled off the top of the wall in LF. Rich stole 2nd and scored on a Craig Conway single to RF.
Elmira's last run came in the bottom of the 6th inning as Elmira loaded the bases with a walk of Osmani garcia, a single by Rolando Bello off Hunrich and a walk of Brandon Pernell by reliever Chris Chavez. Run bush's sac-fly to RF was good to bring in Garcia despite a terrific throw from RF Travis Bailey that went out of the glove of catcher Dworken.
Rafael Alvarez connected with catcher Brian Jones on a spectacular play in the 3rd gunning down Dave Callahan trying to score from 2nd on a base-hit in the 7th inning by Travis Bailey. The terrific throw and tag brought the excited crowd to their feet for a roaring ovation.
Donnie Thomas registered 2 strikeouts in a perfect 9th inning to record the save and extend the Pioneers season by at least another day.
With the victory, the Pioneers force a game-4 Saturday night at 7:05 with Shiegki Sano (3-3) starting against New Jersey's Jeremy Callier (6-3). If Elmira wins game-4 then a decisive game-5 would take place Sunday afternoon at 1:05 with a rematch of the two teams' pitching coaches Greg Keagle and Joel Bennett highlighting the day.
Canadian American League Stories from September 6, 2002
- Pioneers Win Thriller 6-4 in Game 3 - Elmira Pioneers
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