Newark Bears ~ Quebec Shows Who's Boss In CanAm

From the desk of:  GROWLING IN BROOKLYN




NEWARK BEARS: Capitales Flex Their CanAm Might.  Brick City Bows In Opening Game of Series to First Place Club.


Quebec's starter; John Mariotti; was generous when he allowed the Bears two runs over six innings.  However, the Quebec bullpen wasn't as benevolent.  Over three innings they allowed one hit while striking out three.


In my LAST POST,  I said the Bears' starting pitching needed to start supplying the team with some length; that the bullpen was getting overly taxed.  So, Victor Gonzalez took the mound for Newark and lasted exactly 1.2 innings in Friday night's start.  The bullpen was tasked to cover the remaining 6.1 innings.  Kyle Morrison was made to pitch three innings and wound up giving up three runs.


It was a quiet night for the Bears' bats.  They totalled only five hits all game in losing 7-2.


Alex Smith will pitch for Newark Saturday night.  He has to go deep into tonight's game; I'm talking six innings deep with the possibility he can start the seventh.  He is 3-1 this season and hopefully he'll be able to keep his walks allowed to a minimum.  He's pitched as long as seven innings twice before and six innings once in five starts this season.  The Bears very desperately need one of those lengthy starts tonight. 


The Bears are catching a break in a sense as they face Quebec's Karl Gelinas tonight.  He's given up 32 hits in 31 innings pitched and his ERA is a lofty 5.23 in five appearances this season.  So, perhaps he represents the best chances for the Bears to tie this series and force a rubber game tomorrow. 


The Bears have managed to miss Quebec's two top pitching studs; Bryan Rembisz and Matthew Rusch.  But if John Marriotti was any indication of what they can do, then yes indeed, the Bears hit Quebec with the Capitales starting rotation timed just right to optimize their chances against them.


Newark's record dropped to 16-12 but they stayed in third place.  New Jersey remains in second place.  Both teams remain behind the Quebec Capitales who now sport a 21-6 record for the season.

TONIGHT

GAME TWO

 

NEWARK BEARS

vs.

Quebec Capitales

 

 

(Quebec leads series 1-0)

FROM CANADA

CORRECTION:  Tonight's probable starter; Alex Smith; did not start for Newark.  Aaron Kalb was the starting pitcher instead.



Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Brick City Gets Some Northern Exposure

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN




NEWARK BEARS:  The Brick City Nine Take First Ever Trip North Of The Border To Take On CanAm League's Top Team; Quebec Capitales.

INTERNATIONAL SHOWDOWN

Third Place meets First Place

GAME ONE

NEWARK BEARS

16-11 - 4.5 GB

(SP - Victor Gonzalez)

vs.

Quebec Capitales

20-6 - First Place

(SP - John Mariotti)

From - Land of the Great White North

QUEBEC, CANADA

The road trip of all CanAm League road trips; a visit to the home of our neighbors to the North; the Newark Bears play in Canada for the first time to take on the first place Quebec Capitales.  The New Jersey Jackals suddenly squeezed their way into the race, otherwise, this would have been a true battle between the League's top two teams.


Quebec is the only team left who's loss column is still represented by a single digit.  They are winners of eight out of their last ten games.  The Bears just split a four game series with Worcester and are 5-5 in their last ten.


If the Newark Bears are to gain any ground on the Capitales this series, their starting pitching will have to give them some length.  Newark's bullpen has been the team's back bone so far this season.  They have been carrying a heavy load with Bear starters too often lasting only 4+ innings per start.


Newark's probable starter tonight; Victor Gonzalez is 0-1 in three starts.  He's also made five relief appearances.  He's been hittable and has struggled with control as of late.  In 18.1 innings pitched this season, he's allowed 16 hits, while walking 14 and striking out 14.  He hadn't given up a run in his first four appearances this season.  But he's been touched over his last three appearances.  His ERA ballooned because of six earned runs he allowed New Jersey in two innings the last time they met.


Starting pitching is where the Quebec Capitales have a clear advantage over Newark.  Tonight's probable starter for Quebec; John Mariotti; has the League's fifth best ERA with a 2.57 mark.  Bryan Rembisz is number one in the League with a 1.86 mark.  Second in ERA is Matthew Rusch.  He owns a 1.96 mark.


So, truth be told, as good as they've been, the Bears' hitters will have their hands full against these three.






Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Looking For A Win Before Heading Home

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN




NEWARK BEARS:  Rubber Game Versus Worcester Tornadoes.

The Worcester Tornadoes blew back in the face of the Bears Tuesday night with a 2-0 white-washing of Newark.  Four Tornado pitchers combined on a five hit shut-out.


Tornadoes' winning pitcher; Kevin Cooper; pitched five innings of four hit ball.  He walked three Bears and struck out two before giving way to the bullpen. 


In four innings the bullpen allowed only one hit; walked one and struck out three.  Those three strikeouts came in the eighth inning when Albert Ayala struck out the side.  Rick Asadoorian pitched the ninth against Newark and picked up his third save of the season.


Bears' starting pitcher; Victor Gonzalez picked up the loss.  In the third inning, Worcester touched him for three singles as he also uncorked a wild pitch that led to the Tornadoes' first run of the game.  He left the game after the sixth on the losing side of a 1-0 game.  Gonzalez struggled with control as he walked six batters and allowed five hits.


TJ Hose allowed Worcesters' only other run in relief of Victor Gonzalez in the seventh.


Only Newark's Paddy Matera was able size up Worcester's pitching in game two of the three game series.  Paddy was 2 for 3.  The meat of the batting order; Tim Raines Jr.; Daryle Ward; Danny Santiesteban; and Billy Alvino were a combined 1 for 12 against the Tornadoes.


The rubber game of this series is tonight.  They'll have an off day tomorrow before starting a series against Brockton back home in Newark.







Mike.BTB

NEWARK BEARS ~ Monday Morning Baseball. See You There!

From the desk of:  Growlings from Brooklyn



NEWARK BEARS:  Brick City Nine Looking To Sweep Five Game Set Today Versus N.Y. Federals.

THE TROLLEY.... IS HEADED TO NEWARK TODAY!!!


Tim Raines Jr. sat out Saturday after getting hit by a pitch in Friday's second game of the series against the N.Y. Federals.  He returned to action to the delight of Newark fans for yesterday's game. 


But with and without Tim, the Newark Bears still went on to win the first four games of this five game set being played in Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.  They'll conclude the series early in this afternoon today with an 11:00am start.


Saturday Final:
N.Y. Federals....2
NWK Bears.......5


Sunday Final:
N.Y. Federals....3
NWK Bears.......5


After this weekend's action, the Bears now find themselves in third place behind second place Quebec, and the League leading Brockton Rox club.  Leading up to this series with the Feds, the Bears found themselves precipitously close to the League's basement where the Feds currently reside.  From a 2-4 record then, they've gotten healthy playing New York and now sport a 6-4 mark and stand a mere two games out of first place.


Sunday, Newark's Kyle LaMotta took his turn at a big day in the lead-off spot for Newark.  He doubled and homered in the course of his 3 for 4 day; with an RBI and three runs scored. 


Tim Raines Jr. quietly returned Sunday with a 1 for 4 day batting in the third spot this time.  He did however pick up his league leading 12th RBI of the season.  Coach Raines has mostly penciled Jr. into the second slot.  But he's tried batting him clean-up and now took a try at batting him third.  Tim Jr. has been most effective out of the two slot.  ...Just some food for thought there.


Bears' starting pitcher Alex Smith kept things nice and easy for himself and the Bears over his seven innings pitched.  He only allowed the Feds three hits, walked two, and had four strikeouts.  He threw 86 pitches with 52 of them going for strikes.  It was Alex's first win of the season in two starts.


One first deserves another.  Victor Gonzalez pitched the ninth inning recording his first save of the season.

Game five of this series starts in about one and a half hours.  I plan on being there today to root for the Bears and take in some sun; rest; and relaxation a on a weekday off day for me.  Maybe I'll see you there.  TWEET me up.






Mike.BTB