Pavlik saves game for Lumberjacks in ninth

loading...

BANGOR – Bangor and Brockton traded three-run innings, but it was what Bangor did in the sixth and seventh innings that made the difference as the Lumberjacks beat Brockton for the second straight night Tuesday at Winkin Complex.

Bangor built a 5-1 lead but this one turned into a 5-4 squeaker and was sewn up only after Isaac Pavlik was brought into the game with the lead runner on first and retired the next three batters (infield flyout, strikeout, outfield flyout) for his third, and perhaps last, save of the season.

Bangor’s 170-pound lefthander is slated to join the starting rotation in place of yeoman pitcher Lance Calmus, who will become the team’s short relief specialist despite a solid (3-3, 3.97 ERA in nine starts) effort as a starter.

“Calmus has set up and closed most of his career and the way Isaac’s throwing, I’d like to get him out there to start,” said Bangor manager Kash Beauchamp. “That’s what he’d prefer to do, and it’s probably what he needs to do to get back into organizational ball and he deserves that opportunity.”

Another guy who’s being rewarded after gutting out an 0-for-16 slump a couple weeks ago is first baseman Mark Burke, who delivered a key, two-run hit in the first and is 6-for-11 in his last three games.

“Every hitter goes through a streak every year and he battled through it. Mark can hit,” said Beauchamp, whose Lumberjacks are now 24-21 in the first half.

The Rox are 27-18 with four games left before next week’s Northeast League all-star break.

“What we’re doing right now is we’re sending a message to the North Shores and Brocktons that we’re not gonna roll over and we’re going to be a team to be reckoned with in the second half,” said Burke, explaining why these remaining first half games are still important.

Bangor broke on top early with three runs in the first. Jake Whitesides led off with a single, but was caught stealing. Brad Hargreaves followed with a walk, Donnie Ross singled, and Derry Hammond was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Burke delivered a two-run single to shallow right to score two runs and Jose Garcia followed with an RBI single to right center.

Brockton scratched for a run in the fourth inning as Mike Torres doubled to the center field warning track, Brian Jones singled, and Kris Zacuto hit an RBI single to right.

Bangor got that run back in the sixth via a two-base fielding error by right fielder Nestor Smith on Jose Garcia’s flare to right, a groundout, and a Paul Powell excuse-me, swinging bunt single down the third base line.

Bangor scored what would be the winning run in the seventh with two outs. Ross doubled down the left field line and scored on Derry Hammond’s single down the line.

The Rox had a big inning in the eighth as Jones led off with a single. Two outs and two walks later, the bases were loaded for No. 9 hitter Mike Sandoval, who slapped an RBI single down the left field line. Pinch-hitter Francisco Matos then greeted reliever J.C. Huguet with a two-run single to right.

GAME NOTES – The Lumberjacks made a few personnel moves Tuesday, officially signing Kazuhiro Kohno to a contract for this season, activating pitcher John Rohlfing from the disabled list, and claiming infielder Carlos Dominguez off waivers from New Haven. To make room on the roster, Bangor released lefthander Danny Miller and utility player Tim Baywal and placed catcher Hide Masawa on the disabled list.

LUMBERJACKS 5, ROX 4

Brockton (27-18) Bangor (24-21)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Stewart, cf 4 0 0 0 Whitesides, cf 5 0 0

Matos, ph 1 0 1 2 Hargreaves, c 3 1 0

Beck, rf 0 0 0 0 Ross, dh 3 2 0

Bustos, ss 4 0 0 0 Hammond, lf 3 1 1

Torres, 2b 4 1 1 0 Kohno, lf 0 0 0

Jones, 1b 4 1 2 0 Burke, 1b 2 0 2

Zacuto, c 5 0 1 1 Garcia, rf 3 1 1

Daubert, 3b 3 0 0 0 Dominguez, 2b 3 0 0

Smith, lf-rf 4 1 1 0 Bello, 2b 1 0 0

Arroyo, dh 2 1 0 0 Powell, 3b 4 0 1

Sandoval, rf-lf 3 0 2 1 Uchino, ss 4 0

Totals 34 4 8 4 Totals 31 5 9 5

North Shore 000 100 030 ? 4

Bangor 300 001 10x ? 5

E?Smith; LOB?Brockton 11; Bangor 8; 2B?Torres; Ross; DP?Bangor 1; S?Garcia

Brockton IP H R ER BB SO

Anderson (L, 4-4) 6 2/3 7 5 4 3 6

Koch 1 1/3 2 0 0 1 0

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Long (W, 4-3) 5 2/3 5 1 1 5 4

McKeller 2 2 3 3 2 2

Huguet 1/3 1 0 0 1 0

Pavlik (S, 3) 1 0 0 0 0 1

HBP?Hammond (Anderson); T?2:53; ATT?1,349