Can-Am Brockton Rox

Four Run Ninth Catapults Rox Over Capitales 8-5

Published on July 26, 2011 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release


(Quebec City, QC - July 25, 2011) - Trailing by one heading into the ninth inning, the Brockton Rox (6-2, 32-22) rallied for four runs on five singles in the final frame to top the Quebec Capitales (5-3, 40-14) 8-5 in the series opener at Stade Municipal in Quebec City.

After trading runs in the first two innings on Rene Leveret's two-run homer and RBIs from Dominic Ramos and Trey Hernandez, pitching dominated the middle frames for both sides.

Matthew Rusch sat down 15 straight from the third through the seventh, allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out four. On the opposite side, Mike Smith (6.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) held the Capitales scoreless after the Leveret homer, until three straight reached in the bottom of the seventh.

A two-run bloop double by Jeff Helps that rolled into the Rox bullpen chased Smith as Quebec broke the 2-2 stalemate with a three-run seventh, making the score 5-2.

Ahead by three, Rusch exited after seven, leaving the game in the hands of the Quebec bullpen in the final two innings. Things got off to a rocky start for Dexter Bobo, who gave up two runs without recording an out in the eighth, before the flood gates opened for Brockton in the ninth.

Anthony Sullivan (1-2) came on and took the loss for Quebec, allowing back-to-back singles to Shawn Williams and Dan Barbero to begin the ninth inning. One out later, Chris Valencia (3-for-4, RBI, 2 R) knocked home the tying run and then back-to-back RBI singles from Keith Brachold and Alex Sumner completed the rally to give the Rox a three run lead.

Brockton went 3-for-3 on stolen bases in the ninth as all three of those runners came around to score.

Jake Hale (7) followed two scoreless frames from Mark Rosen and proceeded to slam the door in the bottom of the ninth for his team high seventh save of the season. Hale struck out and walked two in a clean inning of work.

Shawn Williams went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base, extending his consecutive game on base streak to 28.

The series continues Tuesday with game two, in a match up between southpaw Dustin Birosak and righthander Dan Sausville. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

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Canadian American League Stories from July 26, 2011


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