Lumberjacks snap six-game losing streak Ross, Bello, Long spark victory

loading...

BANGOR – After struggling through a lost weekend and getting back to basics with an off-day practice session, the Bangor Lumberjacks executed in all phases of the game and snapped a six-game losing streak Tuesday night.

The game was delayed a half hour by rain, but that didn’t dampen the Bangor bats as the Lumberjacks scored early en route to a 7-0 victory over the Northeast League’s travelling Aces team on a cold, clammy evening at Husson College’s Winkin Complex.

The bad weather didn’t affect Bangor starting pitcher Jerry Long either as the righthander evened his record at 2-2 with a three-hit gem.

“That’s the type of outing right there that we needed. When you get a complete game in the first game of the series, your bullpen is really fresh the rest of the way,” said manager Kash Beauchamp. “He did a great job.”

Long struck out seven batters and walked two while throwing 123 pitches, 77 for strikes.

“I felt pretty good from the start. My two-seam fastball and my curve were working pretty well tonight,” Long said. “I was able to throw my curve for strikeouts and that really helped me. My location was the biggest thing.”

Long picked his spots for the curve, and used it with noticeable success as he left three batters flailing wildly at it.

The Lumberjacks are now 11-14 in the Northern Division while the Aces, a team that replaced Allentown (Pa.) when the Ambassadors abruptly folded before the season’s start, are 4-19 in the South.

Bangor got the bats going early as reigning Northeast League batter of the week Donnie Ross followed up back-to-back one-out singles by newly signed Rolando Bello and Jake Whitesides with a 345-foot home run to right in the first inning.

“Bello’s going to be a big pickup for us. I’ve liked him for two years,” said Beauchamp. “He had a couple hits, broke up a douple play, turned two double plays for us, and made some nice plays.”

Bello, who was acquired Monday from Elmira for a player to be named later, made a sprinting, over-the-shoulder stab of a soft liner over the middle in the seventh to take a hit away from Mike Davis.

“I just try to come out and play as hard as I can every day. There’s a great group of guys here and I know my role,” said Bello. “I’ve gotta get on base and make plays. I’m happy to be here.”

The Lumberjacks added a run in the second on back-to-bat singles by Jose Garcia and Paul Powell, a sacrifice bunt, and Bello’s fielder’s choice grounder. Derry Hammond made it 5-0 with one swing of the bat. His 350-foot shot to left came with one out in the third.

Bangor played long ball again in the fifth as Mark Burke belted a two-run homer to right center one out after Ross led off with a double.

No Aces baserunner ever reached second base in the game as the Lumberjacks turned two double plays.

“It’s good to get back on a winning track. That’s what we needed,” said Beauchamp.

Aces designated hitter Alfred Corbeil was ejected in the bottom of the seventh inning for making comments from the dugout. The game was delayed as umpires stopped play until Corbeil left the complex.

LUMBERJACKS 7, ACES 0

Aces (4-19) Bangor (11-14)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Doakes, lf 4 0 0 0 Uchino, ss 4 0 0

Larkin, 1b 2 0 1 0 Bello, 2b 5 1 1

G.Schmidt, 1b 1 0 0 0 Whitesides, cf 5 0

Gambill, rf 4 0 0 0 Ross, dh 4 2 3

Davis, 2b 3 0 0 0 Hammond, lf 3 1 1

Corbeil, dh 2 0 1 0 Burke, 1b 4 1 2

Valera, c 3 0 0 0 Garcia, rf 2 1 0

J.Schmidt, 3b 2 0 0 0 Powell, 3b 4 0

Quezada, 3b 1 0 0 0 Hargreaves, c 2 0 0

Garcia, ss 3 0 1 0 Misawa, c 0 0 0

Hileman, cf 3 0 0 0

Totals 28 0 3 0 Totals 34 7 12 7

Aces 000 000 000 ? 0

Bangor 311 020 00x ? 7

LOB?Aces 3, Bangor 8; 2B?Uchino, Ross; HR?Ross (9), Hammond (6), Burke (6); DP?Bangor 2; S?Hargreaves

Aces IP H R ER BB SO

Cerbone (L,1-1) 4 1/3 10 7 7 2 3

Emmerthal 2 2/3 2 0 0 2 4

Bowe 1 0 0 0 0 1

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Long (W,2-2) 9 3 0 0 2 7

T?2:28; ATT?200 (est.)