FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 6, 2007
Contact: Joe Montefusco (973) 848-1000, ext. 112
BEARS DEFEAT DUCKS 15-9; MOVE WITHIN HALF GAME OF FIRST PLACE IN NORTH DIVISION
NEWARK, NJ – July 6, 2007 – The Newark Bears tied their season high with 15 runs scored and had 18 hits to defeat the Long Island Ducks 15-9 Friday evening at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium. With the win and a Bridgeport loss in York, PA, the Bears are a half game out of first place in the North Division during the final weekend of play in the first half.
With the score tied at nine in the bottom of the seventh inning and two outs designated hitter Joey Gomes hit an RBI double, and catcher John Pachot hit a three-run home run for his second of the season to put the Bears ahead 13-9.
In the first inning, the Bears followed a two-run double by designated hitter Carl Everett and an RBI groundout by shortstop Edgardo Alfonzo giving Long Island an early 3-0 advantage with two-out two-run singles by first baseman Victor Rodriguez and left-fielder Joe Jiannetti to put Newark ahead 4-3.
After the Ducks tied the game at four in the top of the third inning on Everett’s 12th home run of the season, the Bears regained the lead when Gomes hit an RBI single scoring Rodriguez in the bottom half of the inning, and would add four more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning led by a two-run home run by Javier Colina for his team-leading 16th of the year giving the Bears a 9-4 lead.
The score remained the same until the of the top of the fifth inning when Ducks first baseman P.J. Rose hit an RBI double down the right-field line, and would come around to score when Everett hit an RBI groundout cutting the lead to 9-6. The Ducks would tie the game at nine in the top of the seventh inning when Everett hit an RBI double and Alfonzo hit a two-run single.
Gomes finished the day 3-for-4 including two singles, a double, and two RBI, while Colina went 2-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBI, and four runs scored. Everett led the Ducks offense going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored and five RBI.
Edwin Almonte (1-2) earned the victory pitching 2.2 innings of relief allowing only one run on four hits, while Ben Grezlovski (3-2) took the loss after surrendering one run in 2.1 relief innings.
The Bears and Ducks will play game two of the three-game series Saturday evening at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 PM. Former major leaguer and 2007 Atlantic League All-Star pitcher Gary Knotts (4-5) will take the mound for the Bears against former major league left-hander John Halama (4-4) for the Ducks. Gates open at 5:05 PM for Fire Safety Night at The Den. Fans are welcome as the Newark Fire Department will be on the concourse demonstrating fire safety techniques. It will also a Block Party Saturday featuring a block party of games, music, and grilled food Newark Bears style.
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Joe Montefusco
Media Relations Manager
Newark Bears Professional Baseball Club
450 Broad St.
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 973-848-1000 ext. 112
Fax: 973-621-0095