Newark Bears: New Jersey Jackals Suffer Late Game Clawing

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:  The Final Five Games Are At Hand


The Quebec Capitales have clinched the CanAm League's division title.  The New Jersey Jackals have locked up the second playoff spot.  For the Newark Bears, the final five games of their regular season are at hand.


Wednesday night was an off day for the club.  Tuesday evening, Newark made a very short trip up the road for what is effectively their last road trip of the season against the New Jersey Jackals.  The series resumes Thursday.  After concluding this series Friday evening, the Bears will host the Worcester Tornadoes to finish out the season.


The Bears are currently 33-62, and have opened up a six game lead over Worcester.  Therefore Newark is assured of not finishing in last place.  That distinction will fall on the Tornadoes; as if they didn't have enough troubles already.


Tuesday's game was a great back and forth battle.  Both starting pitchers got bombed.  Newark's Julian Sampson faced off against Jackal's starter, Dustin Birosak.  Sampson only lasted 4.1 innings.  He surrendered nine runs; eight earned; and allowed eleven hits.  He also walked three.  Sampson  managed to strikeout two batters before getting yanked.  Birosak line was equally ugly.  In 5.1 innings, he allowed ten hits, and eight earned runs.  He walked two and struck out five.


New Jersey scored three times in the first, and picked up another run in the second, putting Newark down 4-0 early.  D'Angelo Jimenez' RBI single got Newark on the board in the third.  In the fourth, Juan Martinez crushed his seventh home run of the season to make it a 4-2 game.  New Jersey then lowered the hammer in the fifth inning.  Four hits, two errors, and five runs later, the Jackals held a 9-2 lead.


In their very next at-bat, the Newark Bears clawed back and plated seven runs to achieve a 9-9 tie.  Five Newark hits and an error later, and there was a brand new ball game to play with three more innings to go.  It was the Bears who would pull ahead.  They scored a run in the eighth and another in the ninth to complete an 11-9 win.


Pitching in the seventh and eighth inning, Anthony Pluta gets credit for his fourth relief win this season.  And winding up a rather stellar season, closer Jorge Vasquez notched his twenty-first save of the season.  He has seventy strikeouts in 42.1 innings pitched.

TONIGHT

 

NEWARK BEARS

vs.

New Jersey Jackals

FROM

Yogi Berra Stadium

New Jersey

Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ New Jersey Jackals Put a Lickin' on Bears

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:   New Jersey Jackals' Push For First Place Coming at Bears' Expense.


When it rains, it pours.  The Bears dropped their second straight to the Jackals, and have now lost ten of their last twelve games, as well as their last five in a row.

Jorge Vasquez pitched a dandy ninth inning for the Bears.  But the same can't be said for the five Newark pitchers which preceded him in Tuesday's Game Two versus the New Jersey Jackals.  Because by that time, New Jersey was leading 16-4, and fresh off scoring seven runs in the eighth inning.

Starting pitcher, Pedro Rivera, by far suffered his worst outing of the season.  He only lasted 2.2 innings, walking one, surrendering seven hits, and allowing six runs; five coming in the third.  In the eighth inning, Anthony Pluta got roughed up pretty badly as well.  He failed to record an out, and allowed six runs on just one hit, and four walks.  An E-4 by Juan Martinez opened the door for four unearned runs to score.

Daryle Ward, Eric McGee, Bryce Lane, and Juan Martinez each drove in a run for Newark.

In the second inning, New Jersey's 3B-Nick Giarraputo, was hit by a pitch and left the game.  At the moment, he is the CanAm League's offensive Triple Crown Leader.  He leads the circuit in batting average with a .406 mark.  He is number one in home runs with eleven.  And tops the circuit in RBI with thirty-three.

New Jersey's starting pitcher, Steve Fox, leads in two of three pitching categories.  He leads the CanAm League in wins with five, and in ERA with a 1.91 mark.  He was recently named CanAm Pitcher of the Week.

Wednesday is matinee day.  The Bears and Jackals will go at it again in Game Three, then conclude this four game series Thursday.

The Jackals gained a game on Quebec, who lost to the Worcester Tornadoes Tuesday.  New Jersey now sits just a half game out of first place.  After tonight's loss, Newark owns last place to themselves, with Worcester only one game better.


Transactions:
INF-Courtney Billingslea was released.




Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Defeat Kansas City T-Bones in Matinee

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:  Outlast Kansas City Pitching for Tenth Inning Win in Series Finale.  Next Stop on the American Association Tour; the Grand Prairie Air Dogs.


Bears Drop Opening Game to Kansas City T-Bones


Wednesday Final:  10 innings
Newark   2
Kansas City  1


The Brick City Grizzlies salvaged the final game of a three game series in Kansas City with an extra inning effort in Wednesday's matinee game against the T-Bones.

Kansas City's Josh Rainwater pitched nine superb full innings.  He allowed eight hits, and one earned run.  He walked none and struck out eight.  Newark scored first in the opening inning.  Alex Bardeguez led off the game with a triple and scored the Bears first run when Juan Martinez bounced into a 4-3 put-out.  Rainwater then kept the Bears quiet over his next eight innings of work.  The T-Bones got Rainwater off the losing side of the ledger when they scored in the sixth inning to tie the game at one each.

Mike Ness made the start for Newark, and pitched six full innings.  Ness was on the winning side of this game until he surrendered a lead-off home run to Trevor Coleman in the sixth.  Mike Ness walked two and struck out five before giving way to Matt Lyons and the bullpen.

Both starters wound up pitching no-decisions.

Matt Lyons and Anthony Pluta turned in two innings of scoreless relief.  While Jorge Vasquez kept the T-Bones off the board in the ninth.  Then into the tenth inning they went.

Kansas City turned the ball over to the bullpen, calling upon Jacob Wiley.  An E-6 allowed Billy Alvino to reach safely.  Three batters later, Juan Martinez drove him in with a go-ahead single.  In the bottom of the ninth, Jorge Vasquez retired the T-Bones in order, striking out the last two batters swinging to earn the win.



Tuesday Final:
Kansas City  8
Newark         1


In the middle game of the series against Kansas City, the T-Bones' Shaun Garceau held Newark scoreless over six innings, while allowing three scattered hits.  The bullpen covered the rest and allowed the Bears their only run in the ninth inning.

Offensively, the T-Bones tenderized Newark's pitching with eleven hits, and eight runs.  In his fifth start, the Bears' Pedro Rivera pitched six innings and allowed three earned runs en route to suffering his third loss of the season.  Most of Kansas City's damage however, came against reliever Luis Garcia.  In only one inning pitched, he allowed five earned runs on three hits and two walks.


The Bears will continue their American Association tour against the 2011 American Association defending champions; the Grand Prairie Air Dogs; starting with a double-header on Thursday.




Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Drop Opening Game to Kansas City T-Bones

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:  American Association Territory Proving Hazardous For Bears.


In Sunday's series finale, the Gary SouthShore RailCats outlasted Bears' starter, Brian Parker.  The home team rallied in the sixth inning to score the tying, and go ahead runs.  Gary starter, Kyle Wilson was strong over seven innings, and could have benefited from better defensive play.  Three of the four runs he allowed came unearned.  The RailCats' bullpen kept the Bears quiet the rest of the way.  The game ended in a 5-4 final score.  The Bears wound up dropping three of four games in their first trip to Gary, Indiana.

Next stop - Kansas City..., "Kansas City, Here I Come...,"  - to take on the T-Bones.

NEWARK BEARS

vs.

Kansas City T-Bones

From

Community America Ballpark

Gary, Indiana

T-Bones Baseball

American Association of Independent Professional Baseball

Caleb Cuevas was making his second start for the Bears, and Brian Grening was on the hill for BBQ Nation.  And Kansas City waisted no time putting Newark on the grill.  After scoring two quick runs in the first, the T-Bones slow cooked and smoked the Bears; adding another run in the fourth for taste.


Brian Grening was excellent through six innings, allowing three hits, no runs, no walks, and striking out six.  For Newark, as has been Coach Oberkfell's desire this season, he's determined to make his starting pitchers be accountable for six innings, no matter the situation.  And so he let Cuevas struggle through seven walks, and three runs on four hits, in 5.2 innings, before finally getting lifted for Matt Lyons.  To his credit, Cuevas struck out five.

Thanks to three unearned runs, Newark finally posted a total four runs in the seventh to take a 4-3 lead.  But Matt Lyons gave two back in the bottom of the seventh, and Anthony Pluta gave Kansas City two more in the eighth for an 7-4 final score.

Kansas City's Brian Grening pitched eight full ininngs for the win.  Jacob Wiley picked up the save

The Bears have now lost four of five games during this swing through the American Association.




Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ The Great Western Migration

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE  ~  AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

INTER-LEAGUE SERIES

NEWARK BEARS

vs.

Gary SouthShore RailCats

From

U.S. STEEL YARD

Gary, Indiana

RailCats Lead Series 1-0

I - GS 7; NWK 4

II - Friday Night

NEWARK BEARS: Go West Young Cub!

The Bears made their first migration into American Association territory, where they were met rather unkindly by a Gary SouthShore RailCats' line-up that knocked Newark's starting pitcher out of the box after just one inning, and chipped away at Brick City's bullpen the rest of the game.

Bear's starter Pedro Rivera's last act in Thursday's opening game came when he took a come-backer off the bat of Mike Coles, starting a 1-4-3 play to end the bottom of the RailCats' home half of the first inning.  Rivera did not return to the mound for the second.

Making his first appearance for Newark, first out of the Bears' pen was Rob Swift.  In two innings of work, three walks and three hits resulted in two earned runs.  He struck out two.  Brian Parker was next out of the pen, and pitched well over two innings.  But his line was marred by errors which led to an unearned run in the fourth inning.  The second Bears' error of the fourth inning, was Parker's own.

Matt Lyons took his turn against Gary SouthShore in the sixth inning.  The RailCats worked him for a walk, a stolen base, a single, and a double for two more runs.  Exit Matt Lyons; hello Anthony Pluta for the eighth and ninth innings.  The RailCats drew four walks against Pluta, along with two hits.  Before they were through, two more runs had come across the plate for what was ultimately a 7-4 Railcat victory.  Newark's Rob Swift was tagged with the loss.

Newark actually scored first in this game.  Juan Martinez scored on a wild pitch by Gary's starter, Derek Drage.  Juan Martinez scored a second time in the fifth inning upon hitting his third home run of the season.  In the seventh inning, once again it was Juan Martinez generating Newark's only offense of the evening.  A two RBI double upped his game RBI total to three.  Juan finished the game hitting 4 for 5, with 2 runs scored.  After Martinez,  all Newark could manage were four scattered singles against four RailCat pitchers.

The home team managed eight hits against Bears' pitching.  The RailCats' Mike Coles and Mike Rohde combined on six of them.  Together they hit safely in six out of ten at-bats, and combined to drive in four runs.

Game Two from U.S. Steel Yard is Friday night.   And that's alright by me.

Let's Go Bears!  And belated hello to Gary SouthShore!

Canadian American Association of Baseball

NEWARK BEARS

American Association of Professional Baseball

GARY SOUTHSHORE RAILCATS

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 ~ 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 ~ Look Who's In First

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:  Brick City Jumps Out to an Early Circuit Lead.


* Friday night's game in Newark versus the Quebec Capitales was postponed.


As of - Thursday, May 24, 2012:


For the second consecutive night, Newark needed two runs in the top of the ninth inning in order to gain victory over Rockland in the rubber game of a three game set.


In his second start this season, Brian Parker pitched into the seventh inning for a second consecutive time.  He allowed Rockland three scattered runs off six hits.  He walked three and struck out five before giving way to Anthony Pluta.  With a run in the sixth however, the Boulders relegated Parker's effort to no-decision status.


Newark held the early lead with a run in the first after Daryle Ward connected on his second home run this season.  After Rockland tied the game in their next at-bat, the Bears picked up two more in the third.  Billy Alvino reached first on an E-6, and later came around to score on a fielder's choice.  A Juan Martinez single drove in Matt Tomczyk with the second unearned run of the inning.


Rockland tied the game in the sixth at three.  And it stayed that way till the ninth.  In the visitor's half, Eric McGee led off with a double.  Billy Alvino then came through with a clutch two out base hit to deliver McGee from second.  Alvino eventually scored on another two out single by Matt Tomczyk.


After having pitched a scoreless eighth, with two strikeouts, Anthony Pluta was the beneficiary of Newark's effort in the ninth.  He gained his second relief win this season.  Then Jorge Vasquez was summoned to close out the ninth inning for Newark.  He did so in grand fashion by striking out the side.


...And behold, the Newark Bears are a first place club.  With Thursday's win, the Bears affixed themselves to a firm one game lead atop the circuit over the Quebec Capitales.  The Bears are the first team to five wins.  Along with timely hitting, the Bears have been able to do so behind quality pitching that's getting deep into games.  But it's relief pitchers Anthony Pluta and Matt Fitton who lead the league so far in wins with two apiece.  Brian Parker is second in the league with twelve strikeouts.


Offensively, Bryce Lane has the early lead in RBI with nine.




The Bears and Quebec Capitales will make up Friday's game with a double-header on Saturday, at 'ol Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.




Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Ninth Inning Rally Equals Win Number Four

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:  Brick City Busts Some Rocks for Ninth Inning Win.

Series Tied 1-1

I - Boulders 8; Bears 4

II - Bears 6; Boulders 4

Game Three ~ Thursday

The Bears took their first ride up to Rockland Tuesday night where they dropped the first game of their series against the Boulders by an 8-4 final.  Pedro Rivera was making his first start for Newark, and quite frankly, could have used a little more help.  Two errors in the second inning led to Rockland's first two unearned runs.  Another error led to Ryan Mollica's three run home run off Rivera in the third inning, bringing the number of unearned Boulder runs to five.  Then in the sixth, Ryan Mollica sent Pedro Rivera off to the showers with his second home run of the game.


In the seventh inning, Newark committed yet another error; their fourth of the game; which opened the door for Rockland second baseman, Cole Kraft's 2-run home run off Damian Sequen, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings for Newark.


Newark's scoring came in the top of the second inning, and in the seventh.  Eric McGee doubled home Burt Reynolds, and scored when Billy Alvino grounded into a double play.  And in the seventh, Bryce Lane hit a solo run home run; his second.


Wednesday games mean morning games.  And so the teams convened in Rockland at 10:30am for Game Two of this three game set.  Making his second start, Mike Ness, pitched six full innings and left on the winning side of a 4-3 game.  He gave up three earned runs on seven hits, and two walks.  He struck out two.


Quentin Davis doubled and scored in the first inning.  Courtney Billingslea hit a solo home run in the second.  And after singling in the third, Quentin Davis scored again to give the Bears a 3-0 lead after two and a half innings of play.


Rockland got a run back in the bottom of the third.  And picked up two more runs against Mike Ness in the fourth to tie the game.  But the Bears picked up their pitcher with a go ahead run in the sixth.  Once again, Quentin Davis factored in the scoring when he singled home Bryce Lane.


The Boulders remained stout and scored against Matt Fitton in the home seventh to tie the game at four.  But then came back the Bears in the top of the ninth.  Bryce Lane drew a bases loaded walk for the go ahead run.  And for insurance, Daryle Ward scored on Courtney Billingslea's sac-fly.


Anthony Pluta was the beneficiary of those two runs and earned the win.  Jorge Vasquez pitched the bottom of the ninth to close out the Bears' fourth win of the season.


Final Score - Bears 6; Rockland 4


Newark and Rockland will play the rubber game of this series Thursday evening.


So far this season, the Newark Bears, and last season's three-peat CanAm Champs, the Quebec Capitales, are first to four wins, and sit atop the five team circuit.  Remember, there is no split season this year.  The top two teams in the division after 100 games played will make the playoffs.  So that's six down and ninety four to go.  After the Bears wrap up this series with Rockland, they will host the defending champions for three games.


Go Bears.





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 ~ Brick City Roars in Season Opener

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS:  Brick City Takes Opening Day With a Resounding 9-2 Victory Over Worcester Tornadoes.

JOSE CANSECO GOES 0 for 2; TWO STRIKE OUTS; AND DRAWS TWO WALKS IN RETURN TO PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL.

It's hard to tell if Thursday night was a glimpse into things to come in Newark's 15th season, but on this night, you gotta like what you saw.

Mike Ness had the privilege of making Newark's Opening Day start.  He pitched six very solid innings, allowing but one earned run off four hits.  He walked two and struck out six in earning his first win.  Kyle Morrison pitched the seventh and eighth innings, allowing a run on two hits.  He walked one and struck out two.  Anthony Pluta finished up for Newark, surrendering just a walk.

Not even #33 - Jose Canseco - making a return to professional baseball as DH with Worcester at the age of forty-eight, could help muster much against Bears' pitching.

For Worcester, the Bears jumped on starter Zach Zuercher early and often.  Newark knocked him out of the box after just four innings and six earned runs on eight hits.

Eight of nine Bears in Thursday's line-up hit safely.  Lead-off hitter and center fielder, Quentin Davis, was two for four with two triples, and two runs scored.  Number nine hitter, the left fielder, Bryce Lane, was three for four, hit a two run home run in the fourth, and finished with four RBI and three runs scored.

The Bears and Tornadoes will continue with Game Two of this four game series Friday evening.





Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Trying To Claw Their Way Back Above .500

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE



NEWARK BEARS:  Even Series With Quebec; Game Three Tonight.


The Bears have played the Quebec Capitales well this season.  And they continued Friday night with a win against Quebec in game two of a four game series up in the Great White North.


After getting shut-out 4-0 Thursday night in the series opener, it took eleven innings to gain victory Friday.  Three runs in the top of the frame sealed the deal for visiting Newark and spoiled things for the home crowd.  Sacre Bleu!  The game was a step in the right direction against a good team, as the Bears are struggling to get above .500 again.  They are currently two games under the mark and perhaps they can get things going in a more positive direction during the rest of this trip in Canada.


I guess you can say; Bears' starter; Alex Smith did it again.  He walked a bunch of batters; which is his custom; but yet, was relatively effective over 5.2 innings.  Quebec scored one time in the second inning.  The Bears staked Alex Smith to a 3-1 lead after five innings on RBI singles by Brad Jackson and Brandon Watson.  Then Alex got into trouble in the bottom of the sixth and surrendered the tying runs.


Newarks' bullpen was stellar and kept the Capitales scoreless in relief of Smith until Quebec scored one time in the bottom of the 11th inning.  Anthony Pluta; TJ Hose; and Matt Fitton; combined on four innings; no runs; two hits; 2 walks; and five strikeouts.  Newly signed Gregory Lane finished the game for Newark.  He allowed Quebec one run, but was credited with the win.


Back-to-back doubles by Brandon Watson and Paddy Matera drove home all three Newark runs in the top of the 11th inning to get the Bears on the winning side.

TONIGHT

Canadian/American League of Baseball

GAME THREE of FOUR

NEWARK BEARS (1-1)

vs.

Quebec Capitales (1-1)

From

North of the Border, Canada

 

MIKE.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Roaring Back

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE





NEWARK BEARS:   GM is Smarter Than The Average Bear.  Changes Translate on the Field.  Two Straight Wins Earns Split With Pittsfield.


It looks like a week of roster changes begot their desired effects.  Bears' GM Mike Torrez spent the early part of this week shaking up the personnel on his team.  The moves paid off towards the end of the week as the Bears won their last two games; including tonight's game at The Den.  With these last two victories, they did well to salvage a split of their four game series against the Pittsfield Colonials after losing six games in a row.


Starting pitcher; Eric Eden didn't pitch past the fifth inning, but he did keep Pittsfield off the scoreboard.  He allowed five hits; no runs; two walks; and struck out three.  But as is becoming custom, Coach Raines looked to his bullpen to pitch the final four innings of the game.


The Bears opened the scoring in the second inning with an unearned run.  Tim Raines Jr. drove in the Bears' second run of the game in the third inning with a single, scoring Ryan Walsh who led off the inning with a base hit.  Pat Biserta led-off the fourth with a double and scored on an error by  Pittsfield's catcher on a sacrifice attempt.


With the game turned over to the bullpen, Newark's Chris Rollins; relieving Eric Eden; promptly allowed Pittsfield two runs in the sixth, but did finish out the inning.  Newark picked up their pitcher with three more runs in the bottom of the inning.


Pat Biserta reached on an E-5.  Billy Alvino's attempted sacrifice resulted in yet another error (E-1).  He reached first and Biserta reached third.  Biserta scored on Eric McGee's single.  A Brandon Watson sac-fly scored Alvino.  And Juan Martinez doubled home McGee for a 6-2 Bears lead.


Newark tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning when Juan Martinez bopped a two run home run; scoring Brandon Watson.


TJ Hose kept Pittsfield quiet over the seventh and eighth innings.  He allowed no hits and struck out one.  Then Coach Raines called on Anthony Pluta to pitch the ninth inning for Newark.  He allowed a lead-off single and got the second batter on a fly to left.  Pluta got out number two via the swinging strikeout but walked the next for a first and third situation (lead runner advanced previously - WP).  Finally, out number three came on a grounder to second base.


Final score:  Bears 8;  Colonials 2


Since hitting the frightful .500 mark, two consecutive wins gives the Bears a somewhat more eye-pleasing 18-16 record.  They are now tied again with Pittsfield for fourth place overall in the first half CanAm standings.


The Bears will spend the Fourth of July Weekend in N.Y. playing the Rockland Boulders.  Three games in their place will be capped off with a fourth game back in Newark.





Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Worcester Tornadoes Rip Through The Den

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS: Series Against Worcester Tied 1-1.

Game One:  Monday Final - Bears 4;  Tornadoes 3

Newark's DH; Kyle LaMotta; drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday night in the first game of a four game series against the visiting Worcester Tornadoes.

Anthony Pluta got the win in relief as Coach Raines used four Bears' pitchers to eek out a win.  Aaron Kalb started for Newark and lasted 5.1 innings.  He gave up six hits and all three of Worcester's earned runs.  He walked four and struck out four along the way.

The bullpen took over for Newark and turned in a stellar effort.  Chris Collins was called on first.  He turned in 1.2 innings and gave up one hit.  Second out of the pen was Matt Fitton.  In 1.1 innings, he gave up a walk; one hit; and pounded the catcher's mitt with three strikeouts.  Anthony Pluta closed it out and earned a win as the beneficiary of Kyle LaMotta's game winning hit.

Game Two:  Tuesday Final - Tornadoes 10;  Bears 4

Starting pitcher Alex Smith and the Bears suffered a calamitous first inning against Worcester.  Three errors; two walks; and three hits all led to an quick 5-0 deficit.  Only one Tornado run was earned.  And after only two innings pitched, it was off to the showers for Smith.

Recently signed shortstop; Juan Martinez (Jeff Toth was released); committed two of the Bears' errors while right fielder Danny Santiesteban committed the third Newark miscue of the inning with an errant throw.


Over the third and fourth innings, things just proceeded to get worse for Newark.  Three more runs came across the plate for a 8-0 Worcester lead.  Eric Eden was summoned to pitch in the third inning as Coach Raines made an early call to the bullpen.  And Eric fared little better.  He pitched 4.1 innings and allowed Worcester another five runs on eight hits. 


Last night's winning pitcher; Anthony Pluta; was then called upon to take over in the seventh.  But the Bears were behind 10-3 by then and had committed six errors in the game.  Pluta pitched a scoreless eighth.  Mikey Mehlich was tasked with the ninth inning as the third reliever used by Coach Raines.  He served up a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.


Worcester starting pitcher; Ryan Bicondoa cruised, but ran out of gas in the fifth inning.  After getting the first two outs, he allowed three straight singles before walking Danny Santiesteban with the bases loaded for the Bears' first run of the game.  Over his first four innings however, he struck out nine Newark batters, while allowing only three hits and two walks.


The Tornado bullpen picked up where Bicondoa left off.  Worcesters' relievers struck out another six batters in wrapping up the second game of this four game series; knotting things up at a game apiece.  Danny Santiesteban was ejected after striking out looking for the second out of the ninth inning.


Fifteen hits and six errors; you can't win like that.  And that's the kind of game it was for the Bears; frustrating.


The Brockton Rox defeated the Rockland Boulders tonight, and coupled with the Bears loss, means the two teams are tied again for second place overall in the CanAm League with 15-10 records respectively.



Mike.BTB

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