Can-Am Sussex County Miners

Miners Fall to Rockland in Back-And-Forth Contest

Published on September 6, 2015 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Sussex County Miners News Release


AUGUSTA, NJ - The Sussex County Miners dropped a back-and-forth contest to the Rockland Boulders in the opener to their final series of the 2015 season. Sussex County (38-57) led twice and the back-and-forth game was tied five different times, but the Boulders (61-34) prevailed in the end, 9-7.

Sussex County took two leads on the night, but neither stuck. The Miners grabbed their biggest lead in the sixth inning. With the score tied at 4-4 and runners on the corners, Rockland reliever Stephen Harrold sailed a pitch over catcher Joe Maloney. Jayson Hernandez raced home on the wild pitch to give the Miners the lead.

The Miners extended the lead later in the inning. Kenny Bryant hit a high-chopper to first and Boulders first baseman Charlie Law tried to turn two. He threw to second base to retire Johnny Bladel, but shortstop Junior Arrojo's throw to first was late and wide of the bag. Morales scored easily from third on the fielder's choice and Austin hustled home all the way from second to give the Miners a 7-4 lead.

Rockland did not give up, though. The Boulders scored four runs in the top of the eighth to overcome a three-run deficit. Stephen Cardullo brought home the tying runs with a two- run, record-tying double. The double tied the Can-Am League record for most doubles in a single season (34), which was originally set in 2008 by current Toronto Blue Jay and former Worcester Tornadoe Chris Colabello and was also tied in 2013 by former Boulder Danny Bomback.

After Cardullo's two-run double tied the game, Joe Maloney delivered the go-ahead blow. Maloney ripped an RBI double to the gap in right-centerfield that scored Cardullo and gave Rockland an 8-7 lead.

Jamie Walczak got the start for the Miners in their final night game of the season. Walczak went six innings and recorded seven strikeouts and five walks. He allowed four runs on six hits, but did not factor in the decision. Pat Butler recorded his first win of the season with an inning of scoreless relief. Butler (1-0) pitched the seventh before the Boulders took their decisive lead. John Lujan took his his second loss this year. Lujan (0-2) gave up the Miners' lead in the eighth, allowing four runs in 0.2 innings.

Luis Sanz dodged trouble in the ninth and recorded his 18th save of the year. The Miners put two men into scoring position with two outs in the ninth, but Sanz struck out Brady Wilson to end the game and leave the tying run on second base.

Sussex County will look to even their final series of the season on Sunday as they take on the Boulders for game two of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM.

Check out the Sussex County Miners Statistics

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Canadian American League Stories from September 6, 2015


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