Jackals Desperate Rally Falls Short

Augusta, NJ- Ruben Ramirez made his first start as a Jackal on Saturday going five and a third giving up five runs on seven hits. The righty from Puerto Rico was acquired from the Capitales and ended up with four strikeouts as a tough luck loser.

New Jersey took the lead in the first for the second day in a row. Martin Figueroa led off with a single to right field and came around to score on David Glancy’s first home run as a Jackal. The homer was Glancy’s 13th of the year as two batters later, Felix Stevens blasted his 17th of the year.

Ramirez held the Miners quiet after giving up one in the first. Another came across in the third for Sussex County on a groundball. In the sixth, Ramirez gave up a walk and a single putting the tying run and go-ahead runs on base. Mahki Backstrom bounced into a fielder’s choice to tie the game. The very next batter, Keenan Taylor crushed a two-run shot to left, giving the Miners the lead.

Alvaro Gonzalez pulled the Jackals within two on his 11th home run in the top of the eighth. In the ninth down by three, the Jackals got back-to-back singles with two outs from Erick Almonte Jr. and Isaac Bellony. Figueroa was hit by a pitch and Glancy singled to center pulling New Jersey within one. Gonzalez popped out to shallow center field to end the ball game.

The Jackals will look to take the rubber game on Sunday afternoon with Connor Maryniak set to make his second start since coming off the IL. First pitch is set for 1:35 from Skylands Stadium.

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