Bears Wrestle One Away From Crabs

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on June 24, 2008

NEWARK, NJ – The Newark Bears found themselves in a familiar position on Monday night at home. Having blown a large lead to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the previous series, they watched as once again a lead was wiped away in the late innings.

But this time, they found a way to win. After blowing their 3-0 lead, John Pachot’s tenth-inning infield single won the game for Newark by the score of 4-3.

The Bears got on the board early when Jose Herrera launched a two run shot over the right field wall to give them an early advantage.

For most of the evening, starter Benito Baez was the story. Baez faced the minimum through three innings until he allowed back-to-back walks in the fourth, but he was able to strike out Jeremy Owens to end the threat. From there on, he retired nine more in a row.

Baez carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, but saw it broken up by a ball that traveled about 20 feet from home plate, very similar to the hit that New York Mets starting pitcher John Maine gave up last September against the Florida Marlins that broke up his no-hit bid.

At that point, Baez had two runners on and then gave up a single to shortstop George Sandel which brought in both runners. The lead was cut to just one at 3-2.

J.J. Trujillo came on to get the final out of the inning and pitch the ninth, but four Southern Maryland hits off him and Cory Willey tied the game at 3. Ramon Nivar’s spectacular unassisted double play ended that frame and sent the game into extras.

Herrera and Cory Aldridge started the bottom of the tenth with singles and were sacrificed to second and third by Keith Reed. The order came from the dugout to intentionally walk Randall Simon to load up the bases. After Gerard Haran popped out to the first baseman, Pachot came up and hit a slow grounder that died very quickly in the infield. Third baseman Pat Osborn bare-handed the ball and threw to first, but he wasn’t in time. Pachot ripped his batting helmet off in celebration and the Bears swarmed the field to congratulate him.

However, for his second straight outing, Baez had another gem of a start wasted. He went 7 2/3 innings giving up just two hits and two runs while striking out seven, but did not factor in the decision.

“He threw outstanding tonight,” said manager Wayne Krenchicki. “They got a couple of cheap hits on him and then their shortstop put some solid contact on the ball to get them back in the game. That’s a scrappy team that comes to play every night and they didn’t give up.”

Edwin Almonte (3-2) came on in the ninth with one out to get Newark out of their jam and pitched a scoreless tenth for the win. He has excelled in sticky situations this year with inherited runners on base and was able to help his club once more.

Frank Gracesqui (0-1) takes the hill for Newark tomorrow evening at Riverfront Stadium. He will face off against Jonathan Connolly (0-1).

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