Lumberjacks knock off Spirit

LYNN, Mass. – Lorenzo De La Cruz and Donnie Ross each hit a solo home run as the Bangor Lumberjacks edged the North Shore Spirit 3-2 in a Northeast League matchup Wednesday afternoon at New Fraser Field.

North Shore, the first-half winner of the league’s North Division, falls to 2-4, while Bangor goes to 4-2.

The Lumberjacks scored their first run of the game in the third inning. Brad Hargreaves singled and advanced to second on a balk by North Shore starter Miguel Baez. Nick Saunders grounded out to first to move Hargreaves to third. He was waved home on a Schuyler Doakes sacrifice fly to left field.

Ross hit his homer in the fourth and de la Cruz, who also singled, homered in the sixth.

The Spirit tried to rally in the ninth after a Yuri Sanchez walk and a single by Mike Tejada, but Bangor closer Jeff Sparks struck out Frank Charles to end the inning. Spark picked up his fourth save.

Tejada singled twice and scored on a Frank Charles triple. The Spirit stranded 11.

Bangor starter Jerry Long pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs. Santiago Henry earned his fourth win of the season with one hit, no runs and three strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings of work.

The Lumberjacks are off today and return home for a series against the New Jersey Jackals.

Ross and Henry were among five Lumberjacks named to the Northeast League All-Star game. The lineups were announced Wednesday. The game, which will be played July 29 in Quebec City, will pit U.S. players against international players.

Ross will start at first base for the U.S. team. He is hitting .290 with eight home runs, 25 RBIs and 30 runs scored.

Henry, a native of the Dominican Republic, will pitch for the World Team. The righthander has a 3-1 record and four saves with a 2.96 ERA.

Catcher Hargreaves will also start for the U.S. Hargreaves has thrown out 17 this season.

Lumberjacks pitcher-coach Kevin Pincavitch is 5-1 with a 2.78 ERA, which is eighth in the league. The righthander has struck out 47 in 58 1/3 innings with 12 walks. Righty Jerry Long has a 1-3 record with a 2.41 ERA.