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Park Ridge, NJ – The Park Ridge Braves needed all their offense and some good defense, which included two 6-run innings to defeat the Montvale D’backs 15 – 12 in their home opener at Sulak Field.
General manager/manager Ritchie Durso, after consulting with the Braves managerial brain trust, decided to make some line-up changes and they sported a different line up, which placed left fielder Al Bracuti (2 for 3, 2 Home Runs, 2 runs, 3 RBIs, walk) in the lead off spot. The move immediately paid dividends as Bracuti lead off the bottom half of the 1st by crushing a home run to deep right field and sparked a 6 run inning which also featured a two run triple by Dan Mazzilli (3 for 4, 1 run, 4RBIs. The Braves were also aided by 3 D’back errors.
The D’backs plated 5 runs of their own in the top of the second to pull within one run mainly on the benefit of a grand slam, before the Braves scored twice in the 3rd on a SAC fly by Rick Bedford (1-0, SAC, RBI), and single by Rocky Panetta (2 for 4, run 2 RBIs). John Ross (2 for 3, double, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs
Braves starting pitcher Tom Durkin got himself into trouble after giving up a home run in the forth inning, and 3 runs in the third before being relieved by John Ross, who went on to pick up the victory.
The Braves scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 7th on a three run home run blast by Bracuti, and a two run double by Ross, and an RBI single by Mazilli. Bracuti’s home run ties him for the league lead.
Reliever Ross was flawless until giving up a three run homer to the D’backs left field (his third of the game). Both pitchers benefited by three double plays and perfect defense. The Braves have only commited two errors in two games.
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