NEWARK, NJ – August 1, 2007 – Shortstop Ramon Castro drilled a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning to give the Newark Bears a one run lead over the Lancaster Barnstormers en route to an eventual 5-2 victory at Clipper Magazine Stadium on Wednesday night.  The Bears are now 6-6 this season against the Barnstormers and 9-9 in the second half.

The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the top of third on an RBI double by left-fielder Marcus Nettles that scored catcher John Pachot from first.  The Bears added a run in the fourth inning when centerfielder Keith Reed scored on a sacrifice-fly by first baseman Victor Rodriguez.  Reed led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a fly out.

Lancaster tied the game in the bottom half of the sixth on a two-run home run to right field by Dominick Ambrosini.  Ambrosini finished the night 2-for-4 with the home run and two RBI.

After Castro’s home run put the Bears up 3-2, Newark added two insurance runs in the ninth inning.  Infielder Pat Peavey lined an RBI single scoring right-fielder Jose Herrera before Pachot scored his second run of the game on a Barnstormers’ error to make it 5-2.

Bears’ right-hander Justin Huisman (3-1) got the win in relief.  Huisman did not surrender a run in two innings of work, allowing just one hit and striking out three.  Reliever Jason DiAngelo picked up his tenth save of the season, giving up one hit and striking out one in the ninth.

The Bears and Barnstormers will play the rubber game of the three game series on Thursday night at 7:05 PM.  Right-hander Carlos Mirabal (8-5) will take the mound for the Bears.

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