The New Jersey Jackals 2021 season has taken quite the dark turn. Following starting the season 15-9 and in a tie for first place in the Northeast Division, the Jackals have since gone 6-17. After getting swept by the Washington Wild Things, New Jersey once again got swept, this time by the New York Boulders, to wrap up their longest homestand of the season.
New Jersey quickly fell behind New York in the opening game of the series on July 20, as the Boulders put up three runs in the top of the first. Despite this, the Jackals quickly got the lead back in the bottom half of the inning. Milton Ramos, who the Jackals signed earlier that day to help fill in a shortstop while Santiago Chirino is out, lined a single to left for his first hit in a Jackals uniform. He later scored on a Russ Olive two-run double as the Jackals would go on to take the lead back 4-3 in the inning.
Milton Ramos lines one to left for his first hit as a New Jersey Jackal. #GetJacked #JerseySports pic.twitter.com/DsaNTfL8we
— Adam Grassani (@AGrassani6) July 20, 2021
"It feels good," said Milton Ramos on his Jackals debut. "Barrelled up a couple of other balls, just at people. Today instead of 1-for-5, I could've been 3-for-5. The game of baseball is just the way it is. But I can't control that. All I can control is keep hitting the ball hard."
The rest of the game, however, would be all Boulders, as they went on to score eight total runs. Starting pitcher Spencer Hereford had a rough outing in this one, going three innings allowing eight runs, all earned. Angelo Baez, despite giving the Jackals six innings out of the bullpen, allowed four earned runs in the top of the fifth. New York would go on to rout New Jersey 12-6, handing the Jackals their fifth straight loss.
Christian Tessitore took the mound for the Jackals to start the middle game of the series on July 21. Not long into the game, however, showers and thunderstorms hit the area, and the game was sent into a rain delay. Once the system moved through, however, the game resumed play and Tessitore retook the mound and would go on to pitch five shutout innings for the Jackals.
"I was cranky but I was very fortunate that the rain kind of held up a little bit so I was able to get out there and start flicking it a little bit," said Christian Tessitore on the rain delay. "Almost simulated innings, but trying to stay as ready as I could just to give the team the best shot to win."
Tessitore remained on the mound in the top of the sixth, but allowed a single and a walk to give New York runners on first and second with one out. Manager Brooks Carey proceeded to go to the bullpen, bringing in Reece Karalus. It wasn't Karalus's best appearance out of the bullpen, as he went on to allow four runs in the inning. It was a rough one of the Jackals bats as well, as they only managed five hits. It was another rout for the Boulders as they went on to shutout the Jackals 9-0.
New York wouldn't waste any time in the rubber game of the series on July 22, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning. Despite this, New Jersey would immediately respond in the bottom of the first, thanks to a pair of two run home runs off the bats of Russ Olive and Dalton Combs.
Russ Olive hits a moonshot to right for a two-run home run. Seventh home run of the season for the Jackals outfielder gets them on the board as they now trail 6-2. #GetJacked #JerseySports pic.twitter.com/Mb3a1OjJw1
— Adam Grassani (@AGrassani6) July 22, 2021
It would be that kind of game for the Jackals as they would continue to play catch-up with the Boulders. New York would add nine more runs to their total throughout this one. Marcus Mastrobuoni had a big day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three RBI. The Jackals pitching staff simply had no answers for the Boulders bats as New York went on to win this one 15-7, handing New Jersey their seventh straight loss.
Up Next For The Jackals
The New Jersey Jackals currently stand with a record of 21-26, last in the Northeast Division, and 1.5 games behind the Washington Wild Things for second place. They'll head back on the road for a four-game series with the Sussex County Miners, beginning with a doubleheader on July 23 at 5:05 p.m. EST. The Jackals will then head to Washington for three games against the Wild Things starting July 27 before returning home for the first of three against the aforementioned Miners on July 30.
