Ball’s Homer Drops Bears in 12

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on May 31, 2008

NEWARK, NJ – A 12th inning home run by Jarred Ball spelled disaster for the Newark Bears as they dropped their third game in four nights, losing 9-8 to the Lancaster Barnstormers in front of 4,213 at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium Friday night.

Newark started off the game with an early run as Cory Aldridge extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a single to left field that drove in Ramon Castro to give the Bears a 1-0 lead after the first inning.

Lancaster took the lead in the next inning when Jutt Hileman hit a two-run homer over the left field fence.

In the fourth, Aldridge doubled to lead off the inning and set up a two-run shot towards the scoreboard in right field by Rutgers product Val Majewski, his second long ball of the season, that allowed the Bears to re-take the lead. Randall Simon followed with a single to centerfield and scored on John Pachot’s fifth home run of the year to give the Bears a 5-2 advantage.

Lloyd Turner countered with a solo home run on the first pitch of the fifth inning to put Lancaster within two runs. They added another run after a delayed double steal allowed Juan Francia to score and earn a steal of home plate.

The Bears got those runs back in the sixth inning after Pachot’s ground out with runners on the corners scored Majewski. Mike Just gave the Bears their three-run lead back with a double down the left field line to send home Simon, making the score 7-4 Bears.

Allowing four runs on four hits in his first start since taking the ball in last season’s Atlantic League Championship Game Four clincher for the Bears, Jose Garcia was pulled after six innings for Edwin Almonte, who struggled through the seventh and gave away the lead to Lancaster, capped off by Hileman’s second home run of the game, a three-run blast that gave the Barnstormers an 8-7 lead into the seventh inning stretch.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Bears started their comeback with a single by Just to right field. Brian Burgamy then bunted down the first base line, and forced a throwing error by Manny Meija which resulted in Just being awarded home plate for the tying run. The decision brought about an argument by Barnstormers manager Von Hayes, who was tossed from the game.

After Hayes’ ejection, Castro lined out to first. Jose Herrera came up and hit a single to center field. Burgamy was thrown out at home plate and Herrera was also thrown out trying to get to second base. Herrera’s hit prolonged his hitting streak to 20 games.

J.J. Trujillo came in relief for the Bears in the tenth inning and pitched two scoreless innings of relief until he gave up the leadoff home run in the 12th to Ball, giving the Barnstormers a 9-8 lead.

Lefty Eric Ackerman came in for the save in the bottom of the inning, and the Bears were able to get a runner to third in Castro, but Aldridge struck out to end the game, giving Ackerman his first save of the season.

Jose Cabrera (1-0) earned the victory for Lancaster, while Trujillo (1-2) was saddled with the loss. Pachot led Newark with three runs batted in, while Hileman knocked in five runs for Lancaster.

The Newark Bears return to action against the Barnstormers at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium tomorrow night. Pat Stanley (3-0, 4.06) is scheduled to start for the Bears, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Tickets for the game are still available at the Bears box office, online at www.newarkbears.com, or by calling 1-866-55-4-BEAR.

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