After a less than stellar performance in the series opener, the Jackals returned to action Friday night against the Sussex County Miners for the second game of a five game series. This was also the last home game before the series shifts north to Sussex County.

The Jackals would threaten early on, as 1B Danny Canela singled to lead off the bottom of the second, which was followed by a RF Nolan Meadows walk, placing runners at first and second with one out. Shortstop Carlos Triunfel laced a single up the middle, but Canela was gunned down at the plate by the strong throw of Miners CF Jayce Ray for the second out of the inning. Miners starting pitcher Kenny Koplove induced a grounder from Jackals catcher Kevin Torres to end the inning.

In the top of the fourth, the Miners would strike gold. Second baseman Mikey Reynolds would get the action started with a single. Ray followed that with a walk and catcher Luis Alen would drive them both home on a two RBI double. Shortstop Jarred Mederos would add to the scoring with an RBI double of his own, making the score 3-0 Miners after three and 1/2 innings. 

The Jackals would have a chance to tie it in the bottom of the frame as Canela, center fielder Jordan Hinshaw, Meadows and Triunfel would all reach base. Torres lifted a long fly ball to the warning track in centerfield, but it nestled securely in the glove of Ray for the final out, keeping the score at 3-0 Sussex County.

In the top of the fifth, the Miners would tack on three more runs. Third baseman Martin Figueroa got the wheels spinning with a one out walk, followed immediately by a DH Danny Mateo single. After another walk, this one to Reynolds, 1B Audy Ciriaco laced an RBI single, pushing the advantage to 4-0 Miners. Ray and Alen would each add an RBI single to set the lead at 6-0 after 4 and 1/2.

The Miners would make the call to the bullpen for the bottom half of the sixth, after receiving five solid innings from Koplove. The righty allowed only two hits, four walks and recorded six strikeouts on the night.

Immediately, reliever Kevin Grendell would allow the first Jackal runs of the night. DH Dean Green and Canela both walked, advanced on a balk by Grendell and scampered home on a Hinshaw two RBI base hit, making it 6-2 Sussex County. Hinshaw was then caught in a run-down for the first out of the inning. Meadows and Triunfel would strikeout and ground out, respectively, to squash any further offensive opportunities in the inning. 

in the top of the eighth, Alen expanded the Miners lead. He hit a screaming liner off the glove of Jackals 2B Rony Cabrera, scoring Ray and making it 7-2 Sussex County. Jackals fireballer Jose Velez would prevent any further scoring, inducing a fielders choice groundout and a fly out to right.

In the bottom half, the Jackals would threaten once again with two outs. The bases were loaded with two outs against Miners lefty reliever Martire Garcia. It appeared that Garcia wiggled out of the jam, forcing a pop fly in front of the pitchers mound, but no one could come up with it, allowing Canela and Hinshaw to cross the plate, narrowing the deficit to three, 7-4 Miners. Pinch hitter Andy Mocahbee struck out, ending the push.

The Miners turned to their closer, Alex Demchak to wrap the night up. He responded with a one-two-three inning, wrapping up a 7-4 Miners win. The Jackals fall to 29-28 and 3-8 against their neighbors to the north. Kenny Koplove (5-3) gets the win, while Alberto Rodriguez (3-5) suffered the loss. Demchak marked his 6th save. The Jackals will return to action tomorrow 6:05 in Sussex County.

Reed Keller