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Can-Am Brockton Rox

Brockton pounds out 16 hits to total 35 in first two games against New Jersey

September 4, 2011 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release


(Brockton, Mass.) - The Brockton Rox (50-42, 24-22) took one giant step closer to a playoff birth on Saturday night with a 10-6 victory over the New Jersey Jackals (57-35, 30-15) as the Worcester Tornadoes (48-43, 27-16) gave back a 7-4 lead in the ninth inning to the Quebec Capitales (62-26, 27-15), putting the Rox in a position to control their own playoff destiny with a win in Sunday's regular season finale.

The Rox and Jackals battled back and forth in the early innings, trading runs until Brockton broke out with a four-run fourth to take a 6-4 lead. Shawn Willams (2-for-3, 2 RBI) started a rally with a single as six straight Rox reached base and Dan Barbero, Chris Valencia, Dominic Ramos and Phillip Cuadrado each knocked in a run.

Jon Kibler (3-6) struggled in five innings, coughing up ten hits and six runs along with three walks and four strike outs.

Williams plated two more runs in the sixth as Brockton tallied three against reliever Jared Locke and gained some breathing room, making the score 9-4.

Valencia went 4-for-5 at the top of the order with one run scored and two knocked in, while also stealing his 39th base of the season (2nd Can-Am). Cuadrado drove in a team high three runs and was matched by Bryan Sabatella's 4-for-5 night at the plate with three RBIs.

Rox starter John Kelly left with a right arm injury after the first inning, bringing in Mike Petrowski from the bullpen for the next three frames. Petrowski gave up four runs on six hits and exited following back-to-back walks to open the fifth.

Jimmer Kennedy (3-3) neutralized the threat in the fifth and kept the Jackals at bay for the next three frames to earn the win.

Chris Grossman, Melvin Falu, and Ramos each had two hits in the ballgame as the Brockton offense racked up 16 hits for a total of 35 in the series against New Jersey.

Brockton can clinch the final playoff spot in the Can-Am League with a win in the series finale Sunday afternoon. At the very least the Rox have guaranteed themselves a one-game playoff (if necessary) with Worcester on Tuesday. Zach Woods (2-1, 1.17) takes the ball for the Rox and will be opposed by Jairo Mendez in the righthander's 2011 Can-Am League debut with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m.

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