Editor's Note: The date of this game is assumed to be May 25, 2002. The following article was published on that date and subsequent articles refer to this game as being the first week of the season.

Laundromat League Starts With a Bang for Some and a Whimper for Others

New York (JT) - A big seventh inning was the difference maker, as Jungle Love made a 6-2 lead into an insurmountable 13-2 deficit in their win over Wireless Service at Peck Park today.  Mark Rubin led the attack with a 4-4 performance, with two doubles and a three-run homerun in the ninth inning to seal the win.  

	After a shaky start, Wireless pitcher Larry Siu had settled in before that big seventh inning. Siu was chased after allowing the first five batters to reach base that inning, all of whom eventually scored.  In relief, Joseph Lee eventually stopped the bleeding, but the damage was done as seven Jungle Lovers had crossed home plate.

	 After the game, shortstop Brian Mangan (0-2, 4 walks, 3 runs) said, “We were very fortunate that their big bats never really got going.  Credit to Wilson (Ramirez) for throwing a strong seven innings and keeping them off balance - by almost hitting them.”  Ramirez pitched 7 strong innings for Jungle, allowing only three earned runs on 4 hits and an amazing eleven walks.  Although he registered thirteen strikeouts, part of his success was due to the solid defense behind him, “I was really glad how my defense played behind me…. those guys deserve a beer,” said Ramirez afterwards.

	Wireless showed a spark of life in the bottom of the eighth as troubled reliever Kevin Chau came in in relief of Ramirez.  “It’s always an adventure when Kevin comes in,” said centerfielder Chris Plakas (3-5, 2rbi), who was hit by an errant Chau pitch in the ninth inning.  Jungle thought it would be a perfect opportunity to get Chau some experience, as he has a great arm, yet seems unable to put it together on the mound.  In a big finale, Wireless scored 4 runs in the eighth and 5 more in the ninth before Chau was removed.  Mangan entered the game with one out in the ninth as a precaution, allowing two singles but striking out two to end the game.

	With a two-run lead in the first inning, Ramirez walked three of the first four batters, loading the bases.  Things looked good for Wireless, but Ramirez settled down and struck out the next two batters swinging to end the threat.  “That was the game right there – I had a chance to tie the game or take the lead, and I *expletive* choked,” remarked Plakas, “and the game would have been different if I had come through.”

	Wireless had chances to narrow the lead again later on, but Ramirez settled down into a groove until hitting his first bumps in the 5th inning.  Jungle love staked their starter to an early lead, scoring six runs on only three hits in the first three innings off Siu.  

**  News and Notes **

Newcomer Stephan Something went 4-5 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs ...  The 2-6 batters in the Jungle lineup (Jattani, Chau, Ramirez, Huang, Mangan) only combined to bat 4-24 (.166) ...  Brian Jackson earned the Golden Sombrero and then some, going 0-6 with 6 strikeouts ...  The Wireless player who led the team in scoring was Jose Cornier, with three runs ...  Siu only went 2-6 batting, but put the ball in play every trip to the plate (8, 6, 6-3, E4) ...  Jungle leadoff man Roger Cormier reached base 5 times in 7 plate appearances, but made out on the basepaths an astounding three times ...  He also made two errors ...  Shortstop Mangan earned his salary, as he fielded 5 balls and made three putouts without making an error.