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Can-Am Brockton Rox

Brockton One Victory Away From Championship Series

September 8, 2006 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release


BROCKTON, MA -LHP Rolando Viera allowed just two runs on three hits over seven innings and the Rox scored in five of the first six innings to beat the New Haven County Cutters 7-2 in front of 2,229 at Campanelli Stadium to take a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five playoff series. DH Francisco Lebron crushed his second HR in as many nights, a solo shot in the sixth inning, and 3B Jeff LaRue added a solo blast of his own, his first HR in a Rox uniform. Every Rox starter had at least one hit, as Lebron and 2B Eugene Julien led the way with two hits each. The Rox need just one more victory in the final two games of the series to secure a berth in the 2006 Can-Am League Championship Series against the winner of the five-game series between North Shore and Quebec.

In the first inning, 1B Jason Radwan ripped his first hit in three games, a line drive single to left with runners on first and second. SS Mike Scanzano raced to the plate and slid headfirst around the catcher's tag to give the Rox a 1-0 first inning lead. In the second, Scanzano hit a broken-bat flare to left, plating LaRue and Julien and the Rox had a 3-0 cushion. Brockton scored just three runs in the first two games of the series. In the third, Viera allowed two runs on two hits and a pair of walks, but the Rox escaped with a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the third, LaRue's solo shot put the Rox in front 4-2, while Lebron added an RBI double in the fourth inning to increase the Rox lead to 5-2. Lebron's towering solo HR along with a C Mike Torres sacrifice fly upped the Rox lead to 7-2 in the sixth. Viera struck out nine in seven innings of work, retiring 14 of the final 15 batters he faced.

In the eighth leading 7-2, RHP Edwin Morel retired the first two hitters he faced but proceeded to walk the bases full. RHP Jon Koch came on and induced a pop up to end the threat, and pitched a scoreless ninth for his first playoff save. Tomorrow's Game 4 pits Rox RHP Wayne Lundgren (2-6, 3.80 ERA) vs. Cutters LHP Brad Whitworth (4-4, 3.83 ERA) at 7:05 PM at Campanelli Stadium.

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