‘Jacks take two from New Jersey

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ORONO – The Bangor Lumberjacks executed in all facets of the game on a bright, balmy Sunday at Mahaney Diamond to take two of three against the New Jersey Jackals.

The Lumberjacks got two big hits to provide more than enough run support for starter Kevin Pincavitch and played errorless ball behind him as Bangor’s pitching coach turned in another quality start and Bangor notched a 4-1 win.

The 6-3 Lumberjacks stay a half-game behind first-place Quebec in the Northeast League’s north division second- half standings. New Jersey, the south’s first-half winner, is 4-6.

Muskogee, Okla., native Nick Saunders, who attends the same school (Bacone Junior College) manager Kash Beauchamp did, led Bangor by going 4-for-4 and falling two bases shy of hitting for the cycle.

“We went to the same school and he blew all my numbers up there so I told him there’s no reason he shouldn’t dominate this league,” Beauchamp said. “He keeps having games like that, he can get to the big leagues.”

Saunders, who entered the game 1-for-10 after signing with Bangor last week, had a two-run home run, a double, and two singles.

“I think I’ve had 14 at-bats now after not playing at all the last two months,” Saunders said after being asked about his batting groove. “The mental part was some of it, but yeah, I’m getting a little more comfortable at the plate now.”

Pincavitch improved to 6-1 despite allowing two hits and three walks in the second and third innings. He limited New Jersey to six hits and three walks over eight innings.

“I just got in a little funk walking those guys earl and usually I don’t do that,” said Pincavitch. “Starting off in the bullpen today, I didn’t feel like I had it so I decided to go with my best pitch, which is my changeup, and I did that early. As my arm started feeling better and better, I went more with my fastball and that kept them off balance.”

Pincavitch, who struck out four batters, is one of five Bangor players picked for next week’s NEL all-star game. He didn’t let the honor distract him, however.

“Actually, that never entered my mind one time today,” he said. “I just wanted to go out and get the job done because I wanted to in the situation to win the series for us.”

Former Bangor starter Jeff Sparks came out to start the ninth and showed how he’s adjusting to his new role as the team’s closer by striking out the side – all looking.

“I’ve got to think after looking at his numbers and a performance like that, he’s the best closer in the league. He could start getting into guys’ heads with that,” Beauchamp said.

The Jackals took a bite out of the scoreboard first with a run in the second on a one-out Travis Bailey single, a Scott McKee double, and a wild pitch, but Bangor was quick to answer with two in the bottom of the inning. Steve O’Sullivan started things with a two-out single to center, but Saunders jumped all over a 2-0 fastball offering from starter Joe Magri and belted it well over the right field fence for another 350-foot shot – his first pro home run.

Bangor extended its lead with another two-run home run in the fifth, this time courtesy of Lorenzo de la Cruz, who swatted a 1-0 fastball over the fence in right after Donnie Ross drew a one-out walk. On Saturday night, the ‘Jacks scored six runs in the second and never looked back en route to a 12-4 victory.

Leadoff hitter Schuyler Doakes led Bangor with three of its 12 hits. He also had two runs, two stolen bases, and an RBI.

“Once a couple guys get hot, a couple more follow and then everybody’s hitting,” said Doakes. I hope it feels that way for us right now.”

After a rocky start, Danny Miller (3-7) won his second straight game with seven innings of nine-hit, four-run ball. He also had four strikeouts and two walks.

LUMBERJACKS 4, JACKALS 1

(Sunday Afternoon)

NEW JERSEY BANGOR

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Anderson, dh 4 0 1 0 Doakes, cf 4 0 0

Kerrigan, 3b 3 0 0 0 Martinez, ss 4 0 0

Blakely, cf 3 0 1 0 Ross, dh 2 1 0

Glendenning, lf 4 0 0 0 de la Cruz, rf 3 2

Bailey, rf 4 1 1 0 LeBron, lf 4 0 0

McKee, c 4 0 1 0 Burke, 1b 4 0 0

Maxwell, 1b 2 0 1 0 O’Sullivan, 2b 4 1 0

Rowan, ss 3 0 0 0 Saunders, 3b 4 1 2

Conway, 2b 3 0 1 0 Brock, 3b 0 0 0

Hargreaves, c 2 0 1 0

Totals 30 1 6 0 Totals 31 4 11 4

New Jersey 010 000 000 ? 1

Bangor 020 020 00x ? 4

LOB?Jackals 5, Lumberjacks 9; 2B?Anderson, Conway, Saunders; HR?de la Cruz (5), Saunders (1); DP?Conway-Rowan-Maxwell; O’Sullivan-Martinez-Burke; S?Rowan

New Jersey IP H R ER BB SO

Magri (L, 2-4) 5 8 4 4 5 3

Darcy 3 3 0 0 0 3

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Pincavitch (W, 6-1) 8 6 1 1 3 4

Sparks (S, 5) 1 0 0 0 0 3

HBP?Doakes by Magri; WP?Pincavitch; BK?Magri; T?2:12; ATT?1,199

LUMBERJACKS 12, JACKALS 4

(Saturday Night)

NEW JERSEY BANGOR

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Anderson, dh 3 1 1 1 Doakes, cf 5 2 1

Kerrigan, 3b 5 0 2 2 Martinez, ss 5 1 0

Blakely, cf 4 0 1 0 Ross, 1b 5 1 2

Glendenning, lf 4 0 1 0 de la Cruz, rf 3 0

Bailey, rf 4 0 0 0 Thompson, lf 0 0 0

Law, rf 1 0 0 0 LeBron, lf-rf 3 2 1

McKee, c 3 1 1 1 Burke, dh 3 1 3

Dworken, c 0 0 0 0 Brock, 2b-3b 3 1 1

Maxwell, 1b 4 1 1 0 Melendez, c 3 2 1

Rowan, ss 4 1 1 0 Saunders, 3b 2 0 0

Conway, 2b 3 0 2 0 O’Sullivan, 2b 2 0 1

Totals 35 4 10 4 Totals 34 12 12 10

New Jersey 130 000 000 ? 4

Bangor 360 012 00x ? 12

E?Bailey; LOB?Jackals 10, Lumberjacks 10; 2B?Anderson, Blakely, Rowan; HR?McKee (1); DP?Lumberjacks 1; SF?Anderson, Brock; SB?Doakes 2, Burke

New Jersey IP H R ER BB SO

Myers (L, 5-5) 2 6 9 9 5 2

Smith 3 2/3 5 3 2 4 5

Powell 2 1/3 1 0 0 1 1

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Miller (W, 3-7) 7 9 4 4 2 4

Tindell 2 1 0 0 2 2

HBP?Blakely by Miller, Melendez by Myers; WP?Myers, Smith, Miller; BK?Smith; PB?McKee; T?3:10; ATT?2,009