JACKALS CLOSE OUT FIRST HALF WITH 3-2 LOSS AT WORCESTER

Worcester, MA – New Jersey Jackals’ southpaw Isaac Pavlik pitched eight strong innings, but Worcester Tornadoes’ right-hander Chris Farley outdueled him as Worcester defeated New Jersey 3-2 in the final game of the first half on Saturday night at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.

Pavlik (5-2) went the distance for New Jersey, allowing three runs on seven hits while fanning seven without surrendering a walk to bring his league-leading strikeout total to 50. However, Farley (2-1) yielded just one run on four hits in seven frames with three walks and three strikeouts to earn the victory.

In the pitchers’ duel, Worcester struck first when designated hitter Nick Salotti and catcher Alex Trezza laced back-to-back RBI singles in the bottom of the fourth to give the Tornadoes a 2-0 advantage. Five of the seven hits against Pavlik came in the fourth.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Jackals pushed a run across to cut their deficit to 2-1. Left fielder Ryan Rogowski led off with a walk and advanced to second on a groundout. After a single off the bat of designated hitter Myron Leslie advanced Rogowski to third, he scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Matt Lauderdale.

After the Tornadoes added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single down the right field line by second baseman Jeff LaHair, New Jersey countered in the top of the eighth against reliever Eddie Pena when second baseman Marcus Sanders led off with a walk and advanced to third on singles by Rogowski and shortstop Mike DeJesus before coming plateward when Leslie bounced into a double play as the Jackals pulled within one at 3-2.

In the ninth, Tornadoes’ closer Santiago Ramirez retired the New Jersey side in order to notch his fifth save of the season in a contest that took just two hours and 19 minutes to complete.

Offensively for the Jackals, Rogowski went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. DeJesus was the only other New Jersey batter to record multiple hits as he went 2-for-4.

With the win, the Tornadoes take three-of-four in the series and improve to 22-24 while the first-half champion Jackals finish the half with a 28-19 record.

The Jackals will send right-hander Stuart Pomeranz (3-5, 6.13 ERA) to the mound on Sunday night at 5:05 p.m. when they travel to Nashua, NH to begin a four-game series against the American Defenders of New Hampshire at Holman Stadium. New Hampshire counters with right-hander Luis Valdez (0-3, 5.32 ERA). Cody Chrusciel has the call with the live webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

The New Jersey Jackals, proud members of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, play their home games at Yogi Berra Stadium located on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ. The Jackals have clinched the 2009 Can-Am League first-half title and an automatic berth in the playoffs, which begin on September 9. Playoff and regular season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.