Sussex Drops Third in a Row to New Jersey
Published on July 24, 2010 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Sussex Skyhawks News Release
Augusta, N.J. - July 24, 2010 - The Skyhawks' offense faltered again on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field at Skylands Park as the team fell in the third game of a four-game series with the New Jersey Jackals, 3-1. Sussex managed just four hits in the loss and has now come up short in five consecutive games.
The Jackals led the game from beginning to end, plating three against Skyhawks starter Jusef Frias (1-3) in the top of the first. Adam Godwin and Abraham Nunez notched back-to-back singles with one out, and Shawn Riggans singled home Godwin two batters later. Travis Jones followed Riggans with a two-run double off the wall in straightaway center field to give the visitors a 3-0 advantage.
Frias settled down and allowed just five baserunners in the remainder of his seven-inning quality start, but the early run support from the Jackals offense was more than New Jersey starter Jayson Miller (1-0) needed to win. The 24-year-old left-hander kept a perfect game through four and two-thirds innings and struck out six batters in his second start of the season for New Jersey.
In an interesting fifth-inning development, Sussex manager Ed Ott was ejected for arguing a controversial catch on the edge of the right field wall by New Jersey's Kevin Clark. Kris Sanchez's long fly ball appeared to ricochet off the wall before landing in Clark's glove, but first base umpire Jim Grillo ruled it a clean catch. Grillo upheld the decision after consulting with the other two umpires, inciting Ott. After his ejection, the 1979 World Series champion tossed several baseballs into the outfield from the Skyhawks' bullpen and hurled one ball against the wall in the right field corner to demonstrate the sound he claimed to have heard on the disputed play.
The Skyhawks' frustration continued until the bottom of the eighth when Nick Giarraputo launched a solo homerun to left field off of Miller. Mike Megale's single on the next pitch knocked the southpaw out of the game, but right-handed reliever Edward Rodriguez entered and induced a pop out from leadoff man Kraig Binick to end the eighth. In the ninth, left-hander Edgar Estanga pitched a perfect inning and earned his first save of the year.
Five Skyhawks went hitless in the defeat, but relievers Donald Jordat and Jared Locke each hurled scoreless frames out of the bullpen in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.
Sussex (1-5 second half, 26-26 overall) and New Jersey (3-3, 22-30) conclude their four-game series Sunday at 2:05 p.m. at CenturyLink Field at Skylands Park. The Skyhawks will turn to left-handed starter Jeff Icenogle (4-2, 5.34) to prevent a Jackals sweep; New Jersey has not yet announced its probable starter.
Canadian American League Stories from July 24, 2010
- Rox Come-From-Behind For 5-4 Victory - Brockton Rox
- Can-Am League Recap - Can-Am
- Sussex Drops Third in a Row to New Jersey - Sussex Skyhawks
- Miller Masterful as Jackals Win Third Straight Over Sussex - New Jersey Jackals
- 'Hawks Ink Veteran Outfielder Vincent - Sussex Skyhawks
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.
