Newark Bears ~ Pick Up First Win on American Association Grounds

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:  Brick City Wins First Game Against Gary SouthShore RailCats.  Play For a Split in Series Sunday.

Game One; The Bears Great Western Migration


FRIDAY'S FINAL ~ GAME TWO
Railcats   20
Bears       11

Let's just say Friday night's game got out of hand.  Because Pedro Rivera only lasted an inning in Thursday's game, and the bullpen had to pick up the next eight, Coach Oberkfell was forced into some sacrificial managing with regards to Friday's game two starting pitcher, Mike Ness.

Mike Ness was making his fifth start of the season.  He never had good stuff, and never was going to get some.  Not this game.  But with a taxed bullpen, Ken Oberkfell left his starter on the mound through five innings, despite surrendering thirteen hits, and twelve earned runs.  Ken Oberfell then relied on just one pitcher out of the bullpen to pitch the final three innings.  Luis Garcia gave up six hits and allowed another seven runs.

The game ended in a 20-11 final.  Offensively for the RailCats Adam Klein, Mike Massaro, and Rico Washington combine to bat 10 for 13, with nine runs scored, and eleven RBI.

For Newark, Alex Bardeguez scored four runs from the lead-off spot.  He went 4 for 6 with an RBI.  Daryle Ward hit his fifth home run.  He batted 3 for 6, with three RBI.  Eric McGee hit his third home run.  He went 3 for 5 with three runs scored, and two RBI.  And Billy Alvino was 4 for 5, with two RBI.




SATURDAY FINAL ~ GAME THREE
Bears        6
RailCats   4

This pitching match-up featured Newark's usual reliever, Matt Fitton, making his first start of the season after seven relief appearances.  And on the hill for the RailCats, was Stephen Hiscock.

The two teams exchanged a run in the first inning.  Newark's sizzling hot Juan Martinez homered for the fourth time this season.  And for Gary SouthShore, Mike Coles reciprocated with his own solo home run for the tie.

In the second, the RailCats busted Matt Fitton for three more runs.  Adam Klein had an RBI single. Mike Massaro tripled home another run.  And David Cooper singled home Massaro with Gary's fourth run of the game.

Stephen Hiscock cruised through the first five innings.  In the sixth inning he ran into a little trouble.  After securing the first two outs, he allowed a single to Juan Martinez, a single to Daryle Ward, and walked Eric McGee to load the bases.  Hiscock then walked the next batter, Bryce Lane, to force in the Bears' second run of the game.  That ended a good night of pitching for the RailCats' starter.  In 5.2 innings, he only allowed four hits, two earned runs, walked two, and struck out eight Bears.  T.J. Wohlever took over for Hiscock and struck out the next batter to end Newark's threat, and keep it a 4-2 game.

After a rough start over the first two innings, Matt Fitton settled down over the next four and left the game after six innings of work.  He finished allowing six hits and four earned runs.  He struggled with four walks, and struck out three.  Coach Ken Oberkfell summoned Kyle Morrison to pitch the seventh.  He picked up the first two outs, the second with a strikeout.  Coach Oberkfell then called upon Matt Lyons, who secured the third out of the Railcats' home seventh.

In the eighth inning, the Bears finally clawed-up Gary's bullpen for four runs.  Nick Santomauro singled home Daryle Ward.  Courtney Billingslea then singled home two more runs.  Matt Tomczyk's RBI single topped off the eighth, and gave the Bears a 6-4 lead.

Matt Lyons returned to the hill for the bottom of the eighth and combined with Jorge Vasquez to keep Gary SouthShore quiet for another inning.  And into the ninth they went.  Juan Martinez' lead off single was wiped out when Daryle Ward grounded into a double play.  Eric McGee then grounded out to short to set up a save situation for the Bear's bullpen.

Jorge Vasquez came back out in the ninth to face the top of the line-up.  Vasquez struck out his first batter swinging.  The second batter he faced popped to right.  Mike Coles, who has been giving Bears' pitching fits, extended the game with a double.  Jorge Vasquez then walked David Cooper to put the tying run on base, and bring the winning run to the plate.  But the Bears' closer composed himself, and struck out the number five hitter, Mike Rohde, swinging for the final out of the game.

That was Jorge Vasquez' seventh save of the season.  Matt Lyons gets credit for the win.  In a spot start, Matt Fitton pitched rather efficiently.  The Railcats' Chris Allen was tagged with the loss in relief.

In their third try, the Newark Bears finally have their first victory on this road trip through American Association territory.  Brick City will try and earn a series split against the Gary SouthShore RailCats tomorrow, Sunday, before moving on to Kansas City and taking on the T-Bones baseball club.




Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Salvage Game Three Versus St. Paul Saints

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

* Monday's Home Game Versus the Rockland Boulders Was Rained-Out.

St.Paul Saints vs. Newark Bears

Saints Win Series 2-1

I  -  St.P 6; NWK 3

II  -  St.P 7; NWK 2

III  -  NWK 7; St.P 1

 

NEWARK BEARS:  St. Paul Saints Bid Broad Street Adieu After Taking Inter-League Series Two Games to One.

Series Preview, and Recaps from Games One and Two:

St. Paul Saints Come Marching In

The Bears dropped two of three games in their first Inter-League meeting against the famed St. Paul Saints Baseball Club of the American Association.  Newark finally gained a win Sunday, in Game Three.

First Pitch

With rain threatening, the Bears protected a lead through the top of the fifth inning to at least make the game official.  In the home second inning, Burt Reynolds and Eric McGee led off with back-to-back solo home runs, staking Newark starting pitcher, Mike Ness, to a two run lead.

Burt Reynolds rounds second, then touches home after second inning blast.

Eric McGee touches home after completing back-to-back home runs.

However, the game played on.  In the fifth inning, Newark struck for four more runs off Saints' starter, Alberto Rolon.  Juan Martinez had an RBI single.  Then Daryle Ward (right) unloaded with a three run home run, his third of the season, to give Newark a 6-0 lead.  In the sixth inning, the Bears made it a seven run lead when Matt Tomczyk singled home Courtney Billingslea.  All seven Newark runs were earned and came off St. Paul's Alberto Rolon.

In the lead-off spot, Alex Bareguez was 3 for 4, with a run scored.

In his fourth start this season, the Bears' Mike Ness (left) pitched seven full innings to gain his second win against no losses.  He kept St. Paul quiet over the first six innings, before the Saints managed to score once in the seventh.  Ness allowed six Saints' hits.  He walked two, and struck out four.

Anthony Pluta pitched the eighth inning and surrendered two hits.  Jorge Vasquez came in for the ninth, faced four batters, surrendered a hit, and struck out one.

The Bears and Rockland Boulders will try and get their series started, most likely with a double-header on Tuesday.  Wednesday will be get-away day for the Bears, as they travel to Grand Rapids.





Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ St. Paul Saints Come Marching In

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:  The Modern St. Paul Saints Enjoying Their First Ever Visit to Broad Street.  Take First Two Games Over Bears.  Game Three Sunday Afternoon.



Professional baseball in St. Paul, Minnesota, dates back to 1884, when a third league, the Union Association, formed to compete against the established National League, and their rivals, the  American Association of Baseball.  St. Paul later played in the Western League during the 1890's, which was the precursor to the American League we know today.

From 1902 through 1960, St. Paul existed as a (AAA) minor league team in the 20th century version of the American Association, until the league ultimately folded, and it's teams were dispersed to the Pacific Coast League, and the International League.

The modern day St. Paul Saints come to us through the former Northern League of Independent Baseball, which formed in 1993 and ceased after the 2005 season.  The present American Association of Independent Baseball formed in 2006, and the St. Paul Saints have been members since.

For us tri-state area baseball fans, Darryl Strawberry once, and maybe infamously, played for the Saints in a comeback bid to play Major League Baseball again following his suspension from the game.


The St. Paul Saints are in town visiting the Newark Bears for a weekend series, of which, the Saints have already taken the first two games of three.  Call me silly for waxing nostalgic, but the ring of saying - St. Paul Saints versus Newark Bears just sounds classic, and out of another era.  There is indeed a historic connotation, and even significance, to this match-up.  But one that will go unspoken about in the grand scheme of things.


I for one however, am excited the Saints are in town for some Canadian/American - American Association Inter-League play.  That said, I will be at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium today, Sunday, to enjoy the game, and take in what I think is a rather unique match-up of applied team histories.


In Friday's series opener, the Bears dropped this first modern day encounter by a 6-3 final score.  Alex Smith made the start for Newark, and suffered his third defeat of the season.  He pitched six full, allowing six runs, although only were three earned, on eight hits.  Alex only walked two, and struck out  six Saints.  An error by Burt Reynolds at third led to Smith's three unearned runs allowed in a four run second inning.


The Bears scored one in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Juan Martinez.  But they gave it back in St. Paul's next at-bat, who then held a 5-1 lead.  In the sixth inning, the Saints tacked on one more insurance run when Benji Johnson led off with a homer off Alex Smith.


Eric McGee hit his first home run of the season; a solo shot for Newark in the seventh.  They would score again on an RBI single by Alex Bardeguez to make it a 6-3 game.  But that's as close as Newark would get.


Caleb Cuevas and Damian Sequen finished up Newark's pitching duties with three scoreless innings in relief.


St. Paul's Wes Roemer pitched 7.2 innings, gave up six hits, and allowed the Bears three runs.  He walked none and struck out seven for the win.  Bret Severtson gained the save.


In Game Two of the series played Saturday, St. Paul jumped on Bears pitching yet again to secure a 7-2 win.  Defense failed the Bears again, as five errors on the day helped the Saints score four unearned runs.


The Bears' Pedro Rivera made his third start, and lasted five innings.  He gave up five hits and allowed two earned runs out of four he surrendered.  Rivera issued four walks and struck out six.  Matt Fitton also suffered from the team's defensive lapses in relief.  In four innings pitched, only one of his three runs allowed were earned.  He struck out five Saints in his four innings.


Newark's lone two runs against St. Paul starter, Danny Guitierrez, came on RBI singles by Juan Martinez, and Burt Reynolds.


Three Saints relievers combined to allow six innings and keep the Bears sedated.  St. Paul's Josh Cephus pitched three innings for the win.


If you're at the game today, Tweet me up.
Credit - St. Paul Saints Scorecard @ SonOfNostalgia.com

Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Take Matinee Game Over Tornadoes

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:  Yesterday's Pitching Duel Turned Into This Morning's Loss.  Brick City Drops Rain Suspended Game.

Bears Strike Back in Today's Matinee Game for 7-4 Win Over Worcester.

Tuesday - RAIN HALTS PITCHER'S DUEL in WORCESTER



The Bears and Tornadoes were tied after six innings in Wednesday's matinee game.  Newark jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after two.  Daryle Ward doubled home Alex Bardeguez in the first inning.  In the second, Bryce Lane led off the inning with a walk.  A two out double by Dan Coury scored Lane.  And yet another two out double by Quentin Davis drove in Dan Coury.


Worcester picked up two runs in the third.  The Bears then scored their fourth run in the fourth, to take a 4-2 lead on Dan Coury's home run.  In the bottom half of the fourth, Worcester rallied against Newark's starting pitcher, Brian Parker, again for another run, making it a 4-3 game.  With one out, Coach Oberkfell then made his move to the bullpen, and brought in Damian Sequen.


Brian Parker pitched 5.1 innings and got peppered for eleven hits.  He allowed four earned runs, no walks, and struck out five before being relieved.


Damian Sequen held Worcester in the sixth.  Three Bears' relievers combined on 3.2 innings to keep Worcester at four runs.  Anthony Pluta pitched 1.1 innings, with two strikeouts.  Jorge Vasquez took care of the ninth by striking out the side.  Damian Sequen was credited with the win, and Vasquez the save.


In the seventh inning, Alex Bardeguez scored an insurance run on a passed ball.  Newark scored a second time when Daryle Ward scored on a wild pitch.  Then in the ninth inning, they tacked on one more run for good measure.  Juan Martinez doubled home Eric McGee with the Bears' seventh, and final run.



Tuesday's Game Continuation:
The two teams concluded Tuesday night's rain suspended game this morning.  Click link above for game details of a fine pitcher's duel.  Today, Worcester's catcher, Chris Torres launched the game winning home run in the home ninth, giving the Tornadoes a 2-1 victory.  And of course, the Bears earned a split of the series in today's matinee.  They will play the rubber game of this series on Thursday.





Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Rain Halts Pitcher's Duel in Worcester

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:  Mother Nature Halts a Heck of a Game.


Heading into the ninth inning of a 1-1 tie game, Mother Nature interceded to delay the outcome of this contest.  And it's a shame.  Because this game deserved a winner Tuesday night.

Mike Ness of the Bears, and Kevin Cooper of the Tornadoes, engaged in a classic pitcher's duel over the first eight innings of the game.

Mike Ness surrendered three hits, and allowed but one run.  He walked one batter and struck out seven.  Worcester's Kevin Cooper, similarly allowed three hits, and surrendered one Newark run.  He walked two and struck out nine Bears.  In the top of the ninth, Cooper was relieved by Michael Bourdon.  He managed two outs before the umpires ordered players off the field due to rain.

The game was ultimately suspended.

Shortstop Alex Bardeguez drove in the lone Newark run.  Tornadoes' second baseman Brandon Pickney drove in Worester's one run.

Jose Canseco of the Tornadoes was held hitless on four at-bats.  Left fielder Brendon Kelliher had two hits in three times up.  Billy Alvino had one hit and scored Newark's run.  Quentin Davis, Bardeguez, and Burt Reynolds, also hit safely for the Bears.

They will resume Game One of this four game series Wednesday.

The St. Paul Saints defeated the Quebec Capitales 8-2 Tuesday evening, which means the Bears still maintain a half game lead over Quebec, for the early circuit lead.  The Bears and St. Paul Saints will meet for the first time ever, next weekend, at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

TUESDAY UPDATE:


The Bears and Tornadoes concluded Tuesday's game early on Wednesday.  In the bottom of the ninth, Worcester catcher Chris Torres hit the game-winning home run in the home ninth inning, to give the Tornadoes a 2-1 win.


Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Brick City Wins Third Game Over Worcester

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:  Brick City Wraps Up Opening Day Weekend With Three Wins over Worcester Tornadoes.

BEARS WIN OPENING DAY SERIES 3-1

I  -  NWK 9; WOR 2

II  -  NWK 6; WOR 4

III  -  WOR 7; NWK 2

IV  -  NWK 9; WOR 6

Saturday Final:
Tornadoes  7
NEWARK  2


Saturday, the Worcester Tornadoes earned their first victory of the season with a 7-2 victory over the Newark Bears.  After Newark took the first two games of this four game Opening Day series, the Tornadoes jumped on Newark's starter, Sean Campbell early in Game Three.  The Tornadoes whipped up four runs in the top of the second inning.  Worcester scored a fifth run against Campbell in the fifth inning.  Kyle Morrison allowed two more scattered runs during his three inning relief stint giving the Tornadoes their seven runs.

All the Bears could muster against Tornadoes' starter, Dan Sausville and Worcester's bullpen, came in the third inning.  Bryce Lane singled home Burt Reynolds, and Dan Coury later singled home Bryce Lane for Newark's only two runs of the game.  The Bears did however pepper Dan Sausville for twelve hits before he was relieved after six innings pitched.  But over the next three innings, Worcester's bullpen allowed but one hit the rest of the way.

As you can guess, the Bears left fourteen runners on base.  But aside from two doubles by Burt Reynolds and Dan Coury, all the Bears managed were singles.  Burt Reynolds had a big day, going 3 for 5 in the game.  Daryle Ward was 2 for 3 and drew two walks.

After going hitless in his first two games, Jose Canseco was 1 for 5 at the plate for Worcester.

Sunday Final:
Tornadoes  6
NEWARK  9


In Sunday afternoon's final game of the series, the Bears jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.  Quentin Davis scored on a passed ball in the first.  In the second, Courtney Billingslea hit a solo home run, and Norberto Susini scored on a fielder's choice.

After Worcester scored one run in the third, they exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-3 lead.  Bears' starter Alex Smith was doing fine through four innings.  He allowed one earned run, on four hits, and a walk.  Then Matt Fitton took over the pitching duties.  An error, a walk, and a single loaded the bases with one out, and the inning went south from there.  A couple of more hits and yet another error lead to Worcester's five run inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Bears got one back when Alex Bardeguez doubled home Juan Martinez.  Matt Fitton stayed in the game and pitched another two scoreless innings.  Then in the bottom of the seventh, the Bears broke out for five runs of their own against Tornadoes' starter, Kevin Cooper, who was aiming for a seven inning starting effort, and against reliever Mike Mullen.

Quentin Davis started the scoring with an RBI single.  Off a Burt Reynolds single, Quentin Davis and Bryce Lane both scored unearned runs.  Daryle Ward scored when Norberto Susini was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.  The following batter, Billy Alvino, was also hit by a pitch, which forced home Burt Reynolds from third.

Anthony Pluta pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Jorge Vasquez tossed a scoreless ninth to preserve Newarks' third victory in four tries.  Matt Fitton was credited with the win.

For Worcester, Jose Canseco was 2 for 5 at the plate, with an RBI, and a run scored.





Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Worcester Bullpen Gets Clawed in Eighth

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

Brick City Roars in Season Opener

Newark Bears; CanAm League Opening Day

NEWARK BEARS:  The Urban Grizzlies Ride Strong Pitching and Timely Hitting to Second Straight Victory Over Worcester.

Newark's starting pitcher, Brian Parker, gave the Bears a second consecutive strong effort Friday to get this young season started on a most positive note.  In 6.2 innings pitched, he allowed Worcester two scattered runs and three hits in total.  He walked no batters and struck out seven. Brian exited the game in the seventh inning on the winning side of a 3-2 game.  But when the Tornadoes tied the game at three in the top of the eighth inning against Damian Sequen and Matt Fitton, Brian Parker's effort was regulated to no-decision status.

In the top of the eighth, Damian Sequen walked the lead-off batter, then welted the next hitter with a pitch.  A sac-fly put the tying run on third, which prompted Coach Oberkfell to make a change.  In came Matt Fitton.  Another sac-fly promptly scored the runner from third.  Jose Canseco then popped out to end Worcester's at-bat.


In the home eighth, the Bears growled back with three runs.  With one out, Quentin Davis singled and stole second.  Alex Bardeguez singled him home for the go ahead run.  Daryle Ward then bopped a two run home run to give Newark a 6-3 lead.


Jorge Vasquez was summoned to pitch the ninth for Newark.  He surrendered a solo home run to Tornadoes' third baseman, Johnny Welch, but finally closed out Newark's second victory in as many games.  Matt Fitton was credited with the win, and Vasquez the Save.


For Daryle Ward, this was his first home run of the season.  Burt Reynolds was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.  Only second baseman, Juan Martinez failed to get a hit off Worcester pitching.  Tornadoes' Jose Canseco was 0 for 4 at the plate as the DH and clean-up hitter.


The 6-4 final score of this game is somewhat misleading.  This was actually a well pitched contest by both teams.  Combined, both staffs only walked one batter, and combined for sixteen strikeouts.  In seventeen combined innings, all pitchers limited the respective line-ups to fourteen hits.


Both teams will do it again in Game Three of this Opening Day four game series tonight.

OPENING DAY SERIES

Bears Lead 2-0

I  -  NWK 9; WOR 2

II  -  NWK 6; WOR 4

GAME THREE

Worcester Tornadoes

vs.

NEWARK BEARS

From

THE DEN

Broad Street, Newark

Mike.BTB