Newark Bears ~ Brick City Gets Some Northern Exposure

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN




NEWARK BEARS:  The Brick City Nine Take First Ever Trip North Of The Border To Take On CanAm League's Top Team; Quebec Capitales.

INTERNATIONAL SHOWDOWN

Third Place meets First Place

GAME ONE

NEWARK BEARS

16-11 - 4.5 GB

(SP - Victor Gonzalez)

vs.

Quebec Capitales

20-6 - First Place

(SP - John Mariotti)

From - Land of the Great White North

QUEBEC, CANADA

The road trip of all CanAm League road trips; a visit to the home of our neighbors to the North; the Newark Bears play in Canada for the first time to take on the first place Quebec Capitales.  The New Jersey Jackals suddenly squeezed their way into the race, otherwise, this would have been a true battle between the League's top two teams.


Quebec is the only team left who's loss column is still represented by a single digit.  They are winners of eight out of their last ten games.  The Bears just split a four game series with Worcester and are 5-5 in their last ten.


If the Newark Bears are to gain any ground on the Capitales this series, their starting pitching will have to give them some length.  Newark's bullpen has been the team's back bone so far this season.  They have been carrying a heavy load with Bear starters too often lasting only 4+ innings per start.


Newark's probable starter tonight; Victor Gonzalez is 0-1 in three starts.  He's also made five relief appearances.  He's been hittable and has struggled with control as of late.  In 18.1 innings pitched this season, he's allowed 16 hits, while walking 14 and striking out 14.  He hadn't given up a run in his first four appearances this season.  But he's been touched over his last three appearances.  His ERA ballooned because of six earned runs he allowed New Jersey in two innings the last time they met.


Starting pitching is where the Quebec Capitales have a clear advantage over Newark.  Tonight's probable starter for Quebec; John Mariotti; has the League's fifth best ERA with a 2.57 mark.  Bryan Rembisz is number one in the League with a 1.86 mark.  Second in ERA is Matthew Rusch.  He owns a 1.96 mark.


So, truth be told, as good as they've been, the Bears' hitters will have their hands full against these three.






Mike.BTB