Newark Bears ~ Ninth Inning Win On Father's Day

From the desk of:  The Brick City Sluggers


NEWARK BEARS:  Paddy Matera Delivers A Ninth Inning Single To Salvage Game Three In Series Against Brockton Rox.


On Riverfront Stadium -

"Just about any ball hit in the air can leave the park at any time!" - in 7th inning.

That quip came later in the game.  Earlier, my new favorite announcer took exception with the Bears' bullpen.  Not their pitchers; he had a problem with not knowing who was warming up for the Bears at any given time because in Riverfront Stadium, the bullpen is "completely obscured" from view.


He didn't start in on the bullpen pitchers till the eighth when he began questioning how long Tim Raines Sr. was leaving Anthony Pluta in the game during a 6-6 game (at the time).

"He's known to do anything at anytime...."

"No sign of Tim Raines from the Newark dugout."

But he got a few things right today.  Tim Raines Sr. allowed Brockton to retake the lead at 7-6; and Newark killed themselves with sloppy fielding.


Newark got on the board right away. Tim Raines Jr. doubled in the first inning with two outs and Daryle Ward drove him home with a single.   But Brockton scored a run in the second to tie things at one.


In the third inning, Daryle Ward doubled with the bases loaded, delivering two more Bears across the plate for a 3-1 lead.


Paddy Matera homered in the fourth for his seventh of the season.  In the fifth, with Burt Reynolds at-bat and Tim Raines Jr. on third base, Brockton's Freddy Flores unleashed a wild pitch allowing Raines to score and giving the Bears a 5-1 lead.


They were cruising and in seemingly in control through five innings.  Then Brockton knotted this game in the top of the sixth with a two run home run followed by Todd Gossage's error which led to two more unearned Brockton runs.


The Bears' implosion continued in the seventh.  An overthrown ball by Bears' catcher; Eric McGee; led to another unearned run and a 6-5 Brockton lead.  But the Bears showed resiliency when they tied the game again at six apiece.  Tim Raines Jr. hit one of his many doubles on the day and was driven home by a Danny Santiesteban single.


The two teams traded runs again in the eighth to make it a 7-7 game.  Juan Martinez drove home Paddy Matera with the Bears' eighth inning run.


In the home ninth, Newark got a runner in scoring position after Burt Reynolds was hit by a pitch and advanced to second.  Todd Gossage drew an intentional walk with two outs.  Paddy Matera worked his way to a 3-1 count then delivered a game winning single for an 8-7 Bears' win.


The two team are now tied again for second place overall in the CanAm League behind Quebec.


Can you see the bullpen now? 


Somehow, Coach Raines found his way to gut it out with Anthony Pluta during a rocky 2.1 innings of patience testing and lead blowing while his counter-part; Brockton manager Bill Buckner; went through five pitchers trying to stop Tim Raines Jr. and Daryle Ward from going 6 for 8 this afternoon, with three runs scored and three RBI between them. 


But Anthony Pluta's team mates; Kyle Morrison working the ninth inning with 2 strikeouts; and Paddy Matera; 2 for 2, HR, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI; were there to pick up Coach Raines; starter Victor Gonzalez; and all the Bears from what could have been a dreadful loss to their Massachusetts rival.



NEXT UP FOR THE BEARS:

Four Game Series vs. Worcester Tornadoes @ Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.





Mike.BTB