NEWARK, NJ – September 14, 2007 – The Newark Bears hit four home runs with at least one man on base to defeat the Bridgeport Bluefish 11-3 on Friday night at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium. The Bears have now won seven consecutive games, their longest winning streak of the season.
Left fielder Ruben Mateo got the Bears on the board in the second inning with a two run home run to left. The Bluefish made it a 2-1 game in the fourth after scoring on a passed ball, but the Bears responded with a run in their half of the fourth and one in the fifth to go up 4-1.
After the Bluefish added a run in the sixth to make it 4-3, the Bears scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to put the game away. First baseman Victor Rodriguez drilled his 16th home run of the year, a three run shot to left field. Two batters later, Mateo smacked his second two run home run of the game, a deep drive off the netting in left centerfield. Centerfielder Keith Reed added a two run blast in the bottom of the eighth for an 11-2 lead.
Offensively for the Bears, Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBI, and a run scored. Mateo was 2-for-3 with two home runs, four RBI, and three runs scored. Reed finished the night 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored, two RBI, and two stolen bases.
Bears’ southpaw Dusty Bergman (1-0) picked up his first win since joining the team. He went five innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits and a walk, striking out four.
The Bears and Bluefish will play game two of the three game set at The Den on Saturday evening. The Bears will send right-handed starter Mark Woodyard (2-0) to the mound in a game scheduled for 6:05 PM.
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Ed Clinton
Newark Bears Professional Baseball Club
450 Broad St.
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 848-1000 ext. 107