Spirit sweep Jackals In double-header

July 7, 2005 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
North Shore Spirit News Release


The North Shore Spirit earned a sweep of their doubleheader with the New Jersey Jackals on Thursday night thanks to dramatic seventh-inning victories and dominant pitching in both games.

The pitchers cruised early in the second game of the doubleheader as both Bryan Morse and Josh Brey carried shutouts through the first six innings of play.

In the bottom of the seventh, however, Eric Storey laced an RBI single up the middle to score Brian Macchi with the game-winning run. Macchi's run was the only score of the game as the Spirit earned the 1-0 victory.

Morse held the Jackals to just three hits through seven innings to earn his team-leading fifth victory of the season.

The Spirit offense didn't fare much better against Brey, mustering just six hits - all singles, but in the end Brey suffered his second loss of the season.

New Jersey had a chance to score in the fifth inning with runners on first and second, but a runner's interference call on Jackals right fielder Steve Checksfield negated the scoring opportunity.

Checksfield, running from second to third on a ground ball from Ricardo Cordova, was called for interference after making contact with spirit third baseman Eric Storey. Morse escaped from the jam thanks to the play, and no runners came across the plate.

The Jackals didn't get another chance against Morse, and they ended up with their second loss of the night.

In the first game of the night, it was Spirit second baseman Marcos Agramonte who supplied the dramatics. Agramonte lined a walk-off homerun over the left field wall, leading the Spirit to a 2-1 victory over New Jersey. The game-winning blast was Agramonte's first long ball of the season.

New Jersey had jumped out to the early lead in the first. Elvis Corporan reached on an infield hit and moved to second on a throwing error by third baseman Eric Storey. Two batters later, John Lindsey laced a double down the line in left, scoring Corporan with the games first run.

The Spirit pulled even in the third. Vic Davilla picked up his 28th RBI of the season with a groundout that plated Marcos Agramonte.

The scoring stalled in the late innings, however, as both pitchers took control of the game.

Spirit starter Alex Herrera dominated the Jackals lineup, striking out 11 and walking just one. He allowed just one run in the complete-game effort to earn his third win of the season. Isaac Pavlik took the loss, his second of the season.

After a tough loss in the first game of the series, the Spirit recovered to win the next three to stay in contention for the first half championship. The Spirit are now 23-17 on the season.

The Spirit will travel to Brockton Friday for the first of a three-game series with the Rox.



Canadian American League Stories from July 7, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central