IBL: Blue Sox beat Lightning

Tel Aviv team loses 5-2; other results: Miracle 15, Tigers 1; Pioneers 9, Express 0.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
TA lightning 298.88 (photo credit: )
TA lightning 298.88
(photo credit: )
The Tel Aviv Lightning failed to capitalize on a chance to overtake the first-place Beit Shemesh Blue Sox Monday night, losing 5-2. Beit Shemesh pitching ace Juan Feliciano of the Dominican Republic gave up his first earned run of the season, but still managed to earn his fourth win, tossing a complete game and allowing six hits while striking out nine and walking one. Second baseman Jim Pierce had four RBIs and his first two homers. Pierce knocked a two-run shot in the second inning to put the Sox up by one and then slammed another two-run homer in the sixth to put Beit Shemesh 11⁄2 games ahead of the Lightning. Miracle 15, Tigers 1 The Modi'in Miracle are tied with the Lighting for second place after crushing the Netanya Tigers 15-1 at Sportek. Colombian starting pitcher Rafael Rojano suffered a back injury and was forced to leave after recording just two outs in the first inning. Modi'in capitalized on Netanya's pitching woes with the usual leadership of Dominican Eladio Rodriguez. Rodriguez had another monster game, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs, three runs scored and his eighth home run of the season to raise his batting average to .540. Eight of nine starting batters had at least one hit. Miracle manager Art Shamsky's club won its fifth consecutive game. Pioneers 9, Express 0 The night's final game at Yarkon Field at the Baptist Village saw the last-place Petah Tikva Pioneers beat the second-to-last-place Ra'anana Express 9-0. Petah Tikva's Alper Ulutas of Brooklyn kept the Express offense in check by hurling a complete game, scattering three hits and allowing no runs while striking out nine and walking four. Petah Tikva third baseman Andrew Morales, from Ontario, Canada, went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs. Pioneers shortstop Adam Goldman also pitched in offensively with a 2-for-2 night along with two RBIs and two runs scored. Manager Ken Holtzman's club earned its third win of the season.