Newark Bears ~ A Very Quiet Night In The Den

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN



NEWARK BEARS:  Lose Fourth in A Row; Losing Fans At The Gate. 


Theoretically speaking, there shouldn't be anything terribly pressing about the thirty-first game of the season.  That's unless you're the Newark Bears and the CanAm League's first half leaders are roughly two weeks away from being decided; and you're just coming off getting swept by the League's top team.  Well then, in that case, this game against Pittsfield was crucial.  And if you factor in the diminishing fan presence at the park, this came was critical.


The Bears and Pittsfield Colonials started a three game series Tuesday, and entered tonight's action tied for third place with identical 16-14 records.  With the conclusion of tonight's game, the Bears now find themselves in fourth place; a full game behind Pittsfield; and eight games behind Quebec as of this posting; with less and less people showing up to the park.


Tuesday's 5-3 final was Newark's fourth loss in a row.  Newark led 2-0 after the first inning with help from two Pittsfield errors, and led 3-0 after the third inning.  But that's all they'd get for the rest of the night.  Pittsfield game back with 2 runs each in the fifth and sixth innings.  The Colonials added an insurance run in the top of the ninth for good measure.


Pittsfield's bullpen closed the lights out on Riverfront Stadium this evening.  Colonials' starter; Chad Paronto; struck out stuck out seven Bears in six innings.  The bullpen matched him.  Three different relievers combined to pitch an inning each and strike out another seven Bears.  Starter Chad Paronto gave up six hits and 2 earned runs (three total).  The bullpen allowed only one hit.


Newark starter; Jesse Estrada; pitched six pedestrian innings.  Five hits; four walks; and four strikeouts would have been OK until the Bears allowed two unearned runs to score in the fifth inning.    His records drops to 1-4.  This was his third straight defeat.  His last win came on June 6th against the New York Federals.


The only Newark Bear with any sharpened claws tonight was Tim Raines Jr.; 2 for 5; run scored.  Danny Santiesteban and Billy Alvino had an RBI apiece.


Otherwise, it was a very quiet night in The Den....; quite literally.  There were only 208 fans in attendance tonight.




Mike.BTB