Titans Use Long Ball to Tie Series at 2; D-Bags Lose Brodeur

The Titans made up for their inefficiencies at the plate in Game 1 by showing off their powerful offense in Game 2.  Toronto pounded out 14 hits, including 5 for extra bases and 4 of them being home runs as they scored in 6 of the first 7 innings to jump out to a 7-0 lead before eventually winning Game 2, 7-3.  2nd year pitcher and 17 game winner Sergio Martinez struggled as the Titans tagged him for 8 hits, 3 of which were home runs, 5 earned runs in only 3.2 IP.  It marked his 2nd shortest start of the year and only game of the year where he gave up 3 home runs.

Not only was the pitching sluggish for the D-Bags the bats weren't much better.  Though they did manage 8 hits and 4 of them for extra bases, 4 of those hits came in the last two innings, including Goyer's 2 run HR in the 9th.  Jersey scored all 3 of their runs in the last two frames.  Not only did Jersey struggle on both sides of the ball, they also lost their 2B/SS/3B Fabrice Brodeur for the foreseeable future.  Brodeur led off the 5th inning with a double down the right field line and came up limping as he got to 2nd.  Adam Morrow would pinch run for him as he was helped off the field with a limp.  He is diagnosed with a strained hamstring and is likely gone for the season.  A blow to Jersey defensively, but also was productive with the bat for the past 2 months.

Tim Harmon, starter for Toronto, had his best month of the season in September, kept it going in Game 2 allowing 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 6 batters through 6 scoreless innings.  Not bad for his first post season start after spending the the previous 5 years of his career as a member of the New York Knights.

Stars Luis Gonzalez and Kevin Beasley did most of the damage for the Titans, going a combined 6-8 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI and a walk.  Two of those hits were home runs by Gonzalez.  The other homers for Toronto came from catcher Manuel Gonzalez and SS Eugenio Lucero.

Game 3 will be in Toronto after an off day.  SP Jose Lara will go for Jersey, while 23 year old Jose Gonzales will take the bump for Toronto.

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Ramos Masterful; Jersey Takes 1-0 Series Lead

Jose Ramos showed today why he is one of the favorites to take home the CL Cy Young Award and why he is considered one of the best starters in the BSA.  Ramos sprinkled 4 hits in a complete game, giving up 1 earned run on a 5th inning Kevin Beasley single, walking no one and striking out 7 in a 120 pitch performance.  Only 5 balls left the infield all day, as Ramos induced 15 groundballs, including a double play. 

Ramos was aided by 11 hits by the offense, including back to back to back singles in the 4th to tie the game and 3 singles and an error in the 5th which would put the D-Bags up for good.  For the most part starting pitcher Albert Lebel for Toronto kept Jersey guessing all day, striking out 9 in 6.2 innings.  On the 10 hits that Lebel surrendered  only 1 went for extra bases.  Lebel got in trouble when he gave up multiple hits as he did in all 3 innings that Jersey scored in.  Dave Dodd added a solo HR in the 8th inning for extra measure making the score 5-1 which would be the final.

Ramos brings up his post season record to 2-5 with the win.  He had hard two years against against Austin where he went 1-2 despite only giving up 3 ER and only allowing 12 hits in 19 innings pitched.  This was Lebel's 1st post season loss after going 2-0 in 5 starts in Toronto's World Series run last season.  For the 2019 season this marked the 4th time Jersey has beaten Lebel this season.

Game 2 in Jersey Shore features SP Tim Harmon for Toronto vs. SP Sergio Martinez for Jersey

GO D-BAGS