Rox Can't Overcome Early Deficit As Season Ends In Can-am League Semis
Published on September 11, 2010 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release
Pittsfield, Mass. -Brockton RF Keith Brachold went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double, but the Pittsfield Colonials hung on for a 6-4 victory over the Rox in Game 4 of the Can-Am League semifinals at Wahconah Park on Saturday evening. With the win, Pittsfield takes the series, three games to one, and will face the Quebec Capitales in the league championship series starting Tuesday evening.
The Colonials roughed up Rox starter Wayne Lundgren early, scoring all six of their runs in the first three innings. In the first, Pittsfield rapped four consecutive singles before registering an out, taking a 1-0 lead. LF Angel Molina finally struck out for the first out of the inning, but not before SS Matt Nandin came home on a wild pitch during the at-bat, making it a 2-0 game. The next batter, 3B Jason Taylor, hit another RBI single, bringing in 2B Danny Bomback.
Brockton rallied with a pair of runs in the second inning, as 1B Melvin Falu singled to lead off the inning and came home on Brachold's two-run dinger. The Colonials then responded with three third-inning runs to increase their lead to 6-2, with 1B Donny Leon hitting a bases-loaded single and C Scott Knazek following up with a two-run single of his own.
The score stayed at 6-2 until the sixth, when the Rox scored two runs as Brachold, C Chris Grossman and LF Mike Conroy hit three consecutive two-out doubles off of Pittsfield starter Patrick Moran.
Brockton threatened again in the ninth, loading the bases off of Colonials closer Juan Padilla, but 2B Shawn Williams popped out to shortstop to end the rally, the game and the Rox season.
All 11 of the Pittsfield hits on the evening were singles; CF Quentin Davis, Leon and Knazek had two apiece. Brachold and Conroy were the only Rox players with more than one hit.
Lundgren, in his first start since a back injury a week ago, went two and one-third innings, giving up six runs on six hits. Francisco Ortiz, Jimmer Kennedy and Brad Hertzler did an excellent job in relief, keeping the Colonials scoreless and scattering five hits in five and two-thirds innings. Moran picked up the victory, allowing four runs on seven base knocks in five and two-thirds. Padilla labored through the ninth, but earned the save.
"It was a heck of a year for us, and I'm really proud of all of our guys," said Brockton manager Chris Carminucci. "I want to give all of the credit to [Pittsfield manager] Brian Daubach and his guys; they beat us fair and square, and they have a great team over on that side."
The Pittsfield/Nashua franchise earned its first playoff series victory since the Nashua Pride's Can-Am League championship season in 2007. The Colonials will host the first two games of the best-of-five championship series on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Canadian American League Stories from September 11, 2010
- Rox Can't Overcome Early Deficit As Season Ends In Can-am League Semis - Brockton Rox
- Jackals Season Ends With 2-0 Playoff Loss To Quebec - New Jersey Jackals
- Colonials Win, Will Play for Can-Am Championship - Pittsfield Colonials
- Can-Am League Recap - Can-Am
- Colonials Rally and Walk-Off, Lead Series 2-1 - Pittsfield Colonials
- Can-Am League Recap - Can-Am
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