Bears Drop Second Straight to Jackals, 16-4

With two huge innings, the New Jersey Jackals ran past the Newark Bears, 16-4, on Tuesday night.

In the second inning, Bears starter Pedro Rivera loaded the bases with no one out. The right hander got out of major trouble, forcing former Bear Danny Santiesteban to ground into a double play, bringing in a run to put New Jersey ahead 1-0.

The Jackals’ offense added to their lead in the third inning, when designated hitter Gaetano Giunta had an RBI double to drive home Chris Curran, making it 2-0. Bryan Sabatella and second baseman Mike Cusick each had RBI hits for New Jersey. Carlos Guzman capped off a five-run second inning with a two-run home run over the left field fence, extending the lead to 6-0.

The Bears responded in the bottom half of the third. Right fielder Eric McGee started the scoring for Newark, as he sent shortstop Mike Richard home with an RBI single. Bryce Lane followed that by doubling home Daryle Ward. Second baseman Juan Martinez contributed another RBI with a single that plated McGee, pulling the Bears to within three, 6-3. In the fourth inning, Ward drove home catcher Billy Alvino with two outs to pull Newark to within two.

New Jersey would begin to break it open in the fifth. Guzman had an RBI single, giving the Jackals a three-run lead. In the sixth, Angel Berroa homered and Matt Cusick plated a run with a single, putting New Jersey ahead, 9-4, putting the game out of reach.

The Jackals exploded in the eighth inning, tacking on seven runs.

Rivera was charged with six runs over 2.2 innings, while allowing seven hits and one walk.

The Bears and Jackals are scheduled to meet again on Wednesday at 11:05 a.m. A 15-foot T-Rex from Field Station: Dinosaur in Secaucus, N.J., is scheduled to throw out the first pitch.