NJ Bulldogs News > NEWS

4/13/08 South Amboy – The NJ Bulldogs hosted the Jersey Twins, in the first match-up of three between the teams this season. The Twins came fired up and ready to play, and the Bulldogs bats were still piping hot from their opening day offensive breakout. The Bulldogs handed Tim Franklin the ball once again to start the game, and once again he delivered 3 strong innings for the club. In the first, Tim got in a bit of trouble when the leadoff man singled to center, but he promptly got out of the inning with a strikeout, a pop out and ground out. The Bulldogs came to the dish against the Twins lefty Wally Siecinski, who had a great two innings of relief against the Hunterdon Red Sox the week before. Wally looked strong as he struck out Chuck to start the game, however it went downhill from there for the big lefty. Bret Santucci started things with a walk, and then promptly stole second. Dave Markow would deliver a bullet up the middle to score Bret and put the ‘dogs up 1-0. Jesse Boles would come up and single as well,  scoring Markow on the hit.  Siecinski would then toss three consecutive walks to Mike Mazzolla, Tim Ritchie and James O’Hanlon, before delivering a crippling 2 RBI double to Ayad Shuaib. Bulldogs were ahead 5-0 already. The Twins would relieve Siecinski after .1 innings of work, in favor of Logan Yukniewicz who immediately hit the 9 batter, Brad Hoover to load the bases. Chuck would step up and sac fly to center, scoring O’Hanlon. Santucci would step to the plate for his second AB in the frame, and after a shriek from Yukniewicz, he planted a 2-2 fastball over the right field fence for his second homer in as many games. When the 1^st inning was over, it was 9-0 Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs defense would limit the Twins to 5 runs through 8 frames, with Tim Franklin leading the team with 3 innings pitched, 2 strikeouts and scattering 5 hits. He allowed one earned run. Milton Rodriguez would make his Bulldogs debut, and after a few tough calls, got through his 2 frames allowing 3 hits and 3 runs, with 2k’s. He showed great stuff early, and will be a huge contributer for the team this season.

The Bulldogs struck again heavily in the 5^th inning, with Ayad again staying hot at the plate. He singled to left to start the rally. After a walk to Brad, Milton would single and load the bases for hot hitting Eddie Rosado. Rosado delivered his second double of the game, this time for 2 RBI to the left center gap. Chuck would sacrifice fly to score Milton from third to add another run on the total, and Bret stepped up and delivered a triple down the first base line which scored Rosado from second. Markow, Boles and Mazzolla would single consecutively to score two more runs in the frame, which saw 6 Bulldogs cross the dish. At this point, the score was 16-5.

Eddie Rosado would then take the mound for his Bulldogs debut, and was electric. In the top of the 6^th, he retired the first two batters he faced, and got a grounder back to him for the third out. His stuff was outstanding, for so early in the season. In the bottom of the frame, Rosado came up for his third time of the game and blasted a ball into the night, a 2 run jack which plated himself as the 19^th run of the offensive explosion. Rosado would then shut down the Twins in the top of the 7^th, allowing one hit but striking out 3 to end the game.

Bulldogs co-players for the game were Eddie Rosado (3-3, 4 RBI, HR + 2IP, 5k’s) and Bret Santucci (2-3, 4 RBI, HR, 3B). other noteables were Ayad Shuaib who is having a stellar spring thus far batting .857, and was 4-4 in the game with 3 RBI. Also worth noting, both Chuck Harvath and Mike Mazzolla got their first hits of the spring, and without the 600lb gorilla weighing them down, should be ready to start raking.

The Bulldogs improved to 2-0 on the season with the win, their second mercy rule win of the year. They will travel to West Orange next week to face the defending Mel Ott champion Essex Bulls in a double header. Gametime 9am at O’Conner Park.