| Bridgewater, NJ(Somerset) - Commerce Bank Park (Page 2) |
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| Copyright 2002 Chris Trapani All photographs and text on this website and webpage are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the holder of the copyrights, Chris Trapani. Direct all e-mail inquiries to [email protected]. |
| The Games 1) On July 22, 2000, we (my wife, kids and I) saw the Patriots play the Atlantic City Surf. The Patriots� leadoff man, Billy Hall, scored in the 1st on a walk, stolen base, sacrifice and groundout. In the 4th, Patriots RF Kevin Dattola singled, stole second and third, and scored on a groundout. AC took the lead in the 5th on a 2-run double by Keith Gordon (second in the league in hitting) and a 2-run homer by DH Keith Thomas. AC starter Apolinar Garcia pitched spectacularly, giving up only the one hit to Dattola. But, to quote Animal House, �Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?� No. With one out in the bottom of the 9th, Garcia was lifted for Chris Eddy, who walked the 3 and 4 hitters, Michael Warner and Dattola. Sam Ali relieved Eddy and gave up a 2-run double to Antuan Bunkley to tie it at 4. Adrean Acevedo ran for Bunkley. Ali left after that one batter and Aaron Lane came in. He got Greg Blosser to groundout, with Acevedo moving to third on the play. Lipso Nava was intentionally walked. Catcher Carlos Pagan singled to score Acevedo, capping the Patriots� 3-run 9th and dramatic 5-4 win. And if you think that was something� 2) On October 2, 2001, we (my son, his friend, my two daughters and I) saw the Patriots play the Newark Bears in Game 4 of the Atlantic League Championship Series. The Bears were up in the series, 2-1, needing to win either that day or the next to win it all. The Bears opened the scoring in the 2nd with a solo homer by Alonzo Powell. Somerset scored 2 in the 2nd on a double by Emiliano Escandon. The Bears tied it in the 7th, when Ric Johnson scored on an error by Patriot pitcher Ricardo Jordan. Jeff Ball homered with Powell on in the 8th to give Newark a 4-2 lead and put them 6 outs away from the championship. Newark starter and former major leaguer Jaime Navarro pitched into the 9th. After the first batter, Kevin Dattola singled, Calvin Jones came in to pitch. Jones promptly surrendered a game-tying 2-run homer to Mike Glavine, brother of Atlanta Brave Tom Glavine. Another Patriot singled, but Jones got out of the inning. Newark went quietly in the 10th. In the bottom half, Escandon doubled again and Michael Warner walked with no out. Jones, still in there, gave up a 3-run homer to Greg Blosser, giving the Patriots the amazing 7-4 win. The series was now tied 2-2, and it was off to Newark for the final game. Click here to read about Game 5 and see which Glavine brother had more to brag about at Thanksgiving dinner. 3) On August 4, 2002, I saw the Patriots play the Camden Riversharks. I left after 5 innings, with the Patriots up 2-1, to drive to Allentown for a 5:00 p.m. game. On the way, I heard the Patriots take a 5-1 lead, on back-to-back home runs in the 6th by Emiliano Escandon and Will Pennyfeather. They went on to win, 6-1. |
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