Willis Otanez (40) and D'Angelo Jimenez (34) chat with some folks before the game

We’re a bit too far from Friday for me to think that anyone is really interested in a recap of the Newark Bears’ 6-1 victory over Camden, but I can’t skip over a rare 2:25 pitching gem.

Ramiro Mendoza

Ramiro Mendoza was on the mound for the Bears. The former Yankee has had some solid games for the Bears, but his last outing was a bit of a clunker. I had no idea what to expect. I got six shutout innings before Brett Bonvecchio hit a solo homer in the seventh to account for all of the Riversharks’ scoring. Mendoza gave up three hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out two.

Tracy Thorpe

Relievers Scott Williamson and Tracy Thorpe were a bit shaky, but were able to get the job done.

The  Bears took an early lead and never looked back. Charlton Jimerson led off the game with a walk and stole second, scoring on a two-out RBI single from Carl Everett.

Ryan DiPietro

In the second, Rob Mackowiak led off with a single. He went to second when Michael Hernandez singled, then Carl Loadenthal walked to load the bases with one out. Jimerson hit a sacrifice fly to score one run, but the Bears couldn’t put together a big inning. I was afraid it would come back to haunt them.

Newark added to their lead in the third when they scored two runs on three doubles, by Sandy Madera, Willis Otanez and Salomon Manriquez.

A 4-0 lead looked pretty good the way Mendoza was pitching, but Newark continued to tack on. With two out in the fifth, Everett singled and went to third when Chris Walker dropped Otanez’s fly ball. Mackowiak walked to load the bases, and Manriquez hit a short single to left to score a run and re-load the bases. Brian Burgamy made a great play to retire Michael Hernandez, or the Bears would have been able to put together another big inning.

Brian Reith

The Bears scored their final run off reliever Brian Reith in the eighth. Carl Loadenthal walked and scored from first base on a Jimerson double.

Here are some more photos from the game:

Garrett Guzman has some interesting tattoos

D'Angelo Jimenez

Carl Loadenthal

Vito Chiaravolloti