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Spirit defeat Rox, 3-2

July 14, 2006 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
North Shore Spirit News Release


Two days after claming the first-half crown, J.D. Reininger got the Spirit off to a great start in the second half with a game-winning home run late in the contest to give the Spirit a 3-2 victory over the Rox in the series opener at Fraser Field on Friday night.

This game seemed destined to be a low-scoring affair from the start. Both Joey Siak and Rolando Viera were cruising early in this contest, with each hurler holding the opposing team's offenses hitless through the first two innings of play.

The Spirit broke through the deadlock first when Alex Trezza wrapped a home run around the right field foul pole in the bottom of the third inning. The solo shot was Trezza's league-leading eighth long ball of the season, and the first Spirit hit of the game.

B.J. Weed saved an extra-base hit in the top of the fourth inning, laying out for full-extension diving catch in center field. Despite Weed's stellar defense, Brockton did push two runs across the plate to take their first lead of the contest. Francisco Lebron scored Mike Scanzano on and RBI double to left-center and came on Jason Radwan's seeing-eye single up the middle.

The Spirit would even the score in the home half the inning, thanks to some clutch two-out hitting. Chris Rowan got things started, beating out chopper to third for an infield hit. Andrew Wishy followed with a double down the left field line to score Rowan with the game-tying run.

Brockton threatened to reclaim the lead with runners on first and third in the top of the sixth, but Siak pitched his way out of the jam to preserve the tie.

The Spirit had a chance to break things open in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with two outs. Viera got Bethel to strike out for the inning's final out, however, to extinguish the Spirit attack.

One inning later, though, Reininger would put the Spirit back on top with leadoff homerun deep to right off the Spirit clubhouse. The homer was Reininger's third of the season.

Brockton tried to get back into the game with some small ball in the top of the eighth. Scott Williams drew a walk to get things started and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Eugene Julien. Joe Hough sent Williams to third on a bunt single to put runners on the corners with just one out. Brockton appeared primed for a third straight bunt, but Spirit reliever Dennis Robinson sniffed out the squeeze and picked Williams off third.

That would put an end to Brockton's scoring chances on the night, as Spirit reliever Kevin Fitzgerald pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his ninth save of the season.

Siak picked up the well-deserved win, his second of the season (2-4), while Viera (5-4) suffered the loss.

The Spirit will take on the Rox tomorrow night for the second game of the series. Chris Farley (4-2) gets the start for the Spirit, while the Rox will send former Spirit ace John Kelly (5-2) to the mound.

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