NEWARK BEARS ~ Making Most of First Trip To Brockton

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN

NEWARK BEARS:  Brick City ROX Brockton...Again!

Jesse Estrada and Brockton's Robert Bono engaged in an old fashioned pitcher's duel.  Through five innings, the Brockton Rox only managed three hits off Jesse Estrada.  But against Brockton's Robert Bono, the Bears mustered none.


Robert Bono retired the first fifteen Bears to take a turn at-bat before the perfect game was ruined in the sixth inning as the Rox committed a two base error.  That led to Newark's first run of the evening when Paddy Matera not only broke up the no-hitter, but he singled home somebody (Watson?) to break up the scoreless deadlock.  I'll be honest, I lost track of the Bears in the field also.


What happened?


Tim Raines made a multitude of changes throughout the course of this game which drove the Brockton announcer up a wall.  I guess his score sheet was getting a little messy as a result.  On manager Tim Raines' many moves during the game, the Brockton announcer had this to say, ".....He's trying to prove some ludicrous point that I don't even know what it is."  "Very odd..(and).. More than anything, frustrating." 


Admittedly, there was confusion over Todd Gossage, Raines Jr, Jeff Toth, Brandon Watson, and Burt Reynolds, as to whether they were in the game or what position they were playing.  So yes, there was a small point to be made.


I'm not dropping names.  That's not what I want to do.  But I'm sorry, this man still needs to get over himself.  This is the third time I've had the privilege of listening to this announcer call a game; twice during this series, and initially when he wasn't even calling a game between Brockton and Newark.  But in the case I mentioned above, he had nary a good word to say while killing time between games of a double header between Brockton and Quebec.  And over all three occasions, he's done nothing but criticize the Bears in my limited samplings of his work.


In the home seventh, Brockton's Ryan Royster homered off Jesse Estrada to tie the score at one apiece.  Brockton's Robert Bono's day was finished after pitching seven innings.  Bono only gave up two hits and one unearned run.  He walked one and struck out six.  The Rox brought in Jake Hale to relieve Bono.


Newark's Jesse Estrada's day was also done after pitching seven full innings.

Jesse Estrada's Line:
7 ~ innings pitched.
6 ~ hits.
1 ~ runs/earned.
2 ~ walks.
5 ~ strikeouts.
1 ~ home run allowed.
no decision tonight.

TJ Hose came on in relief for Newark. 


Both teams traded zeroes in the eighth inning with their respective bullpens.  For the ninth inning, Brockton summoned Travis Hughes in to pitch.  Raines singled; Ward drew a walk.  Raines advanced to third base when Santiesteban bounced into a FC.  Then Ward advanced to second base on a passed ball.  Alvino was intentionally walked to load the bases.  But the threat went for not.  Brockton escaped without Newark scoring.


In the home ninth inning, Brockton faced TJ Hose in his second inning in relief.  With one out, The Rox' Ryan Royster launched a ball deep to left center...that was caught short of the wall for long out number two.  After surrendering a walk, TJ Hose got the next batter to pop up to send the game into extra innings.


With Brockton summoning their fourth pitcher, the Bears got the lead-off  batter on base in the tenth.  A Sac/FC advanced Paddy Matera to second.  With two outs now, the Rox intentionally walked the switch-hitting Raines Jr. to face Daryle Ward.  But Ward never had a chance to swing.  Raines got picked off first base to end the inning.  Their second consecutive chance with a runner in scoring position had past.


Coach Raines took out TJ Hose after two innings and inserted Chris Rollins for the bottom of the tenth.  He took care of Brockton's first two batters before Chris Valencia doubled.  The Bears elected to intentionally walk the next batter.  With two outs and runners on first and second, Chris Grossman was hit by a pitch on a 3-0 pitch to load the bases.  Shawn Williams came up for Brockton after a Tim Raines visit to the mound.  Williams grounded to Raines Jr. at second who stepped on the bag for the force play. 


Brockton manager Bill Buckner called upon his fifth pitcher for the eleventh.  Tim Raines stuck with Rollins to finish the Brockton half of the inning.  They traded another pair of zeroes and on to the twelfth frame we'd go.


Todd Gossage; the still struggling Todd Gossage; son of Rich "Goose" Gossage, with one out in the twelfth frame launched a home run off Brockton's Colin Lynch to put the Bears ahead.


(What?  What?  Did I hear my favorite announcer complimenting the Bears bullpen tonight?  Yes I did!  How about that.)


The top of Brockton's batting order was due up in the bottom of the twelfth inning.  They'd take their last licks against Newark's Mikey Mehlich.  Brockton's Mike Torres hit a one out triple.  With the infield in, Tim Raines Jr. fielded a grounder, held the runner at third and threw to first for the out.  The Bears elected to intentionally walk the next batter.  And up came Chris Grossman who made the final out of the game.


Tonight's Bears winning pitcher is Chris Rollins.  Mikey Mehlich is credited with his fourth save of the season.  The Bears bullpen was indeed stellar tonight.


Newark Bullpen Line:
5 ~ innings pitched.
2 ~ hits.
0 ~ runs.
2 ~ walks.
3 ~ strikeouts.


And so, the Bears ensured themselves they'd win this series against the Brockton Rox.  Tomorrow will be the third and final game of the series before the Bears move on to Worcester.

And to my new favorite Brockton Rox web caster, keep it up!  I never realized how much fun beating up on the rest of you rambunctious CanAm Leaguers can be until listening to you.  How ya like the Bears now?

Newark Bears lead series 2-1

GAME THREE vs. BROCKTON ROX 

TOMORROW

Sunday, June 12, 2011

From Brockton

Mike.BTB