NEWARK, NJ – August 17, 2007 – First baseman Victor Rodriguez went 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, and three runs scored to lead the Newark Bears past the Lancaster Barnstormers 11-3 on Friday night at Clipper Magazine Stadium.  The Bears have won three consecutive games to improve to 19-15 in the second half and 55-42 overall.

The Bears jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two out RBI single by second baseman Javier Colina.  Colina finished the night 2-for-6 with a home run, his 22nd, and three RBI.  

Lancaster responded in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 2-1 lead on a two-run home run off the bat of left-fielder Dominick Ambrosini.  Ambrosini paced the Barnstormers’ attack, going 3-for-5 with the home run, a triple, two runs scored, and two RBI.

The Bears tied the game in the top of the third on an RBI double by Rodriguez and took a 3-2 lead an inning later on a sacrifice-fly by left-fielder Marcus Nettles.  They never looked back, adding two in the fifth, four in the sixth, and two in the eighth for the 11-3 win.

In addition to Rodriguez and Colina, right-fielder Jose Herrera went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI and third baseman Corey Smith was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored.

Bears’ starter Harold Eckert (2-0) struck out seven batters in as many innings of work.  He allowed three earned runs on five hits and four walks.  Reliever Matt Smith finished the game with two scoreless innings.

The Bears and Barnstormers will play game two of the three game series tomorrow night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM.  The Bears will send right-handed pitcher Delvis Pacheco (6-1) to the mound to face Barnstormers’ lefty Rob Henkel (5-8).

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Ed Clinton

Newark Bears Professional Baseball Club

www.newarkbears.com

973-848-1000 ext. 107