Blasters Drop Second Straight to Rockland
August 12, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
Joplin, MO-The Blasters were shut out for just the fourth time this season as Rockland posted a series-clinching 8-0 victory Wednesday night at Joe Becker Stadium.
With the loss, Joplin (41-33) fell three games behind first-place Wichita in the South but still leads the wild-card race by a half-game over Kansas City. The Wingnuts won Wednesday night while the T-Bones lost.
Rockland (47-26) opened the night with an early run in the first. With one out, Junior Arrojo reached base on a hit-by-pitch. Stephen Cardullo followed with a single to left. Joe Maloney then smashed a ball to the gap in left-center where Oscar Mesa made a diving catch for the Blasters. Arrojo tagged from third to score but Mesa brought the ball quickly back to the infield and the relay to first doubled up Cardullo to end the inning.
It was 1-0 Boulders until a two-out, two-run home run to deep left by Steve Nyisztor stretched their lead to 3-0. Marcus Nidiffer scored on the homer after he was hit by a pitch earlier. In the fifth, Rockland made it 4-0 on a Stephen Cardullo RBI bloop single to right that scored Guiseppe Papaccio from third. Papaccio had doubled to lead off the inning.
Rockland added some insurance in the eighth. The Boulders scored four more times, including a three-run home run from Marcus Nidiffer. It was Nidiffer's Can-Am leading 16th dinger of the season. Stephen Cardullo also had an RBI single in the inning.
On the mound, Bo Budkevics baffled Blasters batters all night long. Budkevics (3-4) went the distance to pick up his first complete-game shutout of the season. He scattered eight hits and struck out six with no walks. Alberto Castillo suffered the loss for Joplin. Castillo (1-2) lasted seven innings and gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
Rockland outhit Joplin 9-to-8. For the Boulders, Stephen Cardullo finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and one run scored. Jake Taylor posted two hits in defeat for the Blasters. Joplin committed two errors on the night.
Joplin's six-game home stand against Rockland and St. Paul continues Thursday night and runs through Sunday. First pitch against the Boulders Thursday is set for 7:05. For 2015 ticket information and promotion specials at Joe Becker Stadium, call 417-622-4838 or visit the Blasters website at www.joplinblasters.com.
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