Lumberjacks snap out of slump, stop Pioneers Bangor backs Long with four-run sixth inning

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ORONO – For Bangor Lumberjacks manager Kash Beauchamp, frustration was the word of the day as his team readied itself for a series-ending game with Elmira (N.Y.).

Bangor was finally hitting, but the Lumberjacks were still unable to sustain rallies, or at least get a couple of big hits in succession to break innings open.

That all changed Wednesday night at the University of Maine’s Mahaney Diamond. Bangor got a big inning and two key Lumberjacks broke out of slumps in the process for an 8-4 win over the Pioneers.

Cleanup hitter Lorenzo de la Cruz doubled his season hit total in one night with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate; Mo Blakeney, who had been moved down in the order to the No. 9 slot after struggling with a .222 average, quadrupled his season RBI total with one swing of the bat; and Jude Voltz continued his hot hitting with two singles to lead the ‘Jacks, who are now 3-5.

The Lumberjacks broke things open in the sixth after Voltz and de la Cruz hit back-to-back singles to start off the inning. A flyout to center later, Juan Silvestre was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Hitting coach and utility player Josh Brinkley – who was activated only 90 minutes before the game – singled to drive Voltz home, but starting pitcher Dan Head struck out Stephen King for the second out of the inning.

Blakeney refused to let Head off the hook, however, and ripped a bases-clearing double down the left field line to put Bangor up 6-3.

“He was throwing me in all night, so that at-bat before, I hit one down the line, and he kept coming back in, so I was looking for something to drive,” Blakeney said. “The big thing was getting the lead and then coming back with more runs.”

Bangor piled up two more runs in the seventh as Voltz led off with a single and de la Cruz jumped all over a 2-1 Head fastball and sent it well beyond the left-center field fence for a two-run shot that just barely cleared the fence, some 376 feet away.

“I was just looking for a hit and not even thinking home run,” de la Cruz said. “I just tried to put the ball in play. This will really help, though, especially after losing two tough games.”

The ‘Jacks snapped a two-game skid, thanks to the timely offense and the resilient pitching of starting righthander Jerry Long, who allowed three runs (one earned) and eight hits in seven innings to notch his first win.

“He got stronger as the game went on,” said Beauchamp. “His composure was real impressive for a rookie.”

Elmira scored first when Rafael Alvarez belted a 3-1 fastball some 350 feet to right field for a two-out solo home run in the first inning.

The Lumberjacks struck back in the second as de la Cruz singled and scored on Donnie Ross’ triple to the right-center fence. A fielding error allowed Ross to score.

The 7-5 Pioneers tied it in the third after Cleatus Davidson hit a double down the right field line, advanced to third on a fielding error, and scored on a Ryan Lehr single.

An unassisted double play by Voltz on a catch of Rafael Alvarez’s stinging line drive down the line and subsequent tag of Lehr helped Long shake off a Scott Hunter double and retire Brian Jones to end the inning.

Elmira retook the lead in the fifth, courtesy of back-to-back singles by Davidson and Lehr, a fielder’s choice grounder, and a throwing error by Brinkley.

The win comes at a good time for the ‘Jacks as they head out for an eight-day road trip that starts with a 6 p.m. doubleheader tonight against New Jersey.

LUMBERJACKS 8, PIONEERS 4

(Wednesday Night)

Elmira (7-5) Bangor (3-5)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Davidson, ss 4 2 2 0 Kobayashi, ss 4 0 0

a-Valdes 1 0 0 0 Hargreaves, c 5 0 0

Lehr, 3b 5 0 3 1 Voltz, 1b 4 2 0

Alvarez, lf 5 2 3 1 de la Cruz, dh 4 3 2

Hunter, rf 5 0 2 0 Ross, 3b 4 1 1

Jones, c 4 0 2 1 Silvestre, lf 2 1 0

Morton, 1b 4 0 1 0 King, rf 4 0 0

Marconi, dh 4 0 0 0 Blakeney, cf 2 0 3

Webb, cf 3 0 1 0 Brinkley, 2b 4 1 1

Rosario, 2b 4 0 0 0

Totals 39 4 14 3 Totals 33 8 8 7

Elmira 101 010 001 ? 4

Bangor 020 004 200 ? 8

a-flied out for Davidson in 9th

E?Lehr, Corrado; King, Brinkley; LOB?Elmira 11; Bangor 7; 2B?Davidson, Hunter; Blakeney; 3B?Ross; HR?Alvarez; de la Cruz; DP?Voltz (unassisted)

Elmira IP H R ER BB SO

Head (L,1-1) 5 2/3 6 6 5 3 3

Corrado 2 1/3 2 2 2 2 2

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Long (W,1-1) 7 8 3 2 2 5

Bowe 2 6 1 1 0 2

HBP?Webb by Long; Silvestre by Head; T?2:29; ATT?648