BROCKTON, MA – (June 12, 2009) – New Jersey Jackals’ pitcher Ted Serro stymied the Brockton Rox for the second consecutive start and Jackals’ first baseman Myron Leslie drove in four runs as New Jersey took the first game of a weekend series 7-5 at Campanelli Stadium on Friday night.

The Rox faced Serro for the second time in a week and struggled to figure out the right-hander who shut them out last Thursday in New Jersey over seven innings.  This time however, Brockton was able to score a couple of runs despite just a handful of hits.

After falling behind 4-0 in the third inning, the Rox scored for the first time in ten innings against Serro, dating back to his last start.  Brockton opened up the bottom of the fourth inning with a walk by 3B Phillip Cuadrado followed by a single from 1B Keith Brachold. The next two batters grounded out, but each drove in a run as Brockton cut the deficit to 4-2.

Rox starter LHP Craig Anderson failed in his bid for his third straight win with just one rough inning.  New Jersey scored four times in the third against the Australian southpaw, beginning with the first of two home runs on the night by LF Ryan Rogowski.  RF Quinn Stewart and 1B Myron Leslie each doubled in the inning as the trio accounted for three of the team’s eight extra-base hits on the night.

Rogowski and Brachold traded solo home runs in the sixth inning to push the score to 5-3 in favor of New Jersey, and when Leslie hit a two-run home run in the seventh, Brockton was staring at a four-run deficit for the second time in the game.

However the Rox opened up the bottom of the seventh with the first two batters reaching and chased Serro from the game.  SS Freddy Flores drove in a run with a groundout, and CF Chris Valencia followed with an RBI double to cut the score to 7-5.

The New Jersey bullpen held up over the final six outs however as RHP Seth Overbey worked a perfect eighth inning and LHP Rusty Tucker a perfect ninth to secure the win.  The save for Tucker was his third in the last 30 hours after saving two games in a double header on Thursday against Quebec.

The Rox and Jackals take the field again on Saturday with a 6:05 PM first pitch.  RHP Wayne Lundgren (1-1, 4.32 ERA) takes the hill for Brockton against New Jersey RHP Stuart Pomeranz (1-1, 5.91 ERA).