Second inning effort powers Spirit to series opening victory

August 22, 2006 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
North Shore Spirit News Release


The North Shore extended their winning streak to three games Tuesday night with a 7-4 victory over the New Jersey Jackals. Matt Bishop (4-1) picked up win, allowing two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings.

The Spirit struck first in the contest, getting to Jackals starter Jared Brown (1-4) early with a six-run second-inning. After retiring the first batter on a popup to the catcher, Brown succumbed to some serious control issues. He walked the next two batters he faced and gave up a run-scoring bloop single to Ryan Bethel. After Bethel's base knock, Brown hit the next Spirit batter and then surrendered a two-run single to Rob Fischer. The scoring wouldn't stop there, however, as Vic Davilla cleared the bases with a three-run home run chasing Brown from the game. The towering shot over the right field wall was Davilla's league-leading 14th homer of the season and it increased his league-leading RBI total to 61.

New Jersey finally broke through against Bishop in the fifth. With two outs and a runner on first, John deVries committed consecutive catcher interferences errors allowing the Jackals to load the bases. Zach Smithlin followed with a RBI basehit, narrowing the Spirit lead to 6-1.

John Lindsey pulled New Jersey closer in the sixth. After a Guillermo Reyes single, Lindsey smashed a Bishop offering over the left center field fence for his team-leading 10th homerun of the season.

The Jackals pushed across another run in the top of the seventh. Clay Kuklick leadoff with a basehit and scored two batters later on a Jason Tuttle RBI single.

North Shore would stretch their lead back to three runs in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a Rob Fischer solo shot, his second homerun of the season.

Kevin Fitzgerald (0-1) retired the side in the ninth to record his league-leading 19th save of the season.

The Spirit and the Jackals resume their three-game series tomorrow night at Fraser Field. Jared Trout will take the mound for the Spirit while Michael Vicaro gets the start for the Jackals. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.



Canadian American League Stories from August 22, 2006


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