Mateo, Simon Blasts Bring Bears 12-6 Win

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on September 1, 2008

NEWARK, NJ – Ruben Mateo and Randall Simon both recorded two home runs and the Newark Bears scattered 21 hits for the second consecutive game en route to a 12-6 victory over the Long Island Ducks on Sunday afternoon at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

The duo contributed back-to-back jacks during a six-run fifth inning in which the Bears took an 8-5 lead. Mateo’s homer was his second of the game, his seventh in the past six games, and his fifteenth of the season. Not to be outdone, Simon blasted his second homer of the game off the scoreboard in right field during four-run eighth inning to break the game open for the Bears. This was the sixth consecutive game to feature a Bears home run, and multiple Bears have homered in five of the six.

Every Bears starter collected at least one hit during the game. In his second consecutive three-hit game, Keith Reed went 3-4 with three singles, a walk, and scored once. Mateo and Simon both went 3-5 with two home runs and a single. Mateo collected five RBI and Simon earned four in his second consecutive three-hit outing.

After Mateo tied the game 2-2 with a two-run home run launched over the left field net in the third inning, Damian Rolls responded with a two-run shot of his own in the top of the fourth. Jamie Pogue also homered in the inning, giving the Ducks a 5-2 lead. An RBI single by Pogue cut the Bears lead to 8-6 in the eighth inning. Rolls finished the game 3-4, ending a triple short of the cycle.

Bears starter Benito Baez (6-4) earned the win, giving up five runs on ten hits through seven innings of work, walking none and striking out six. Alay Soler (3-4) suffered the loss, allowing eleven hits and eight runs over 4.1 innings.

The Bears begin a three-game home series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs tomorrow evening with a 7:05. Jeff Blitstein (0-0) will be making his home debut for the Bears, facing Ryan Bicondoa (11-6). Along with the usual Kids Eat Free Mondays, where all children under age 14 receive a free food voucher, tomorrow is also White Out. Wear white pants, shorts, skirt, or dress and receive free admission in celebration of Labor Day (and the last day of the Wearing White Season).

The Bears play their home games at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium, conveniently located off Route 280, across the street from the Newark-Broad St. train station, and just minutes from Route 78, the New Jersey Turnpike, and the Garden State Parkway. For ticket information, please call 1-866-55-4BEAR or visit the Bears website at www.newarkbears.com.

Readers Comments