Can-Am Brockton Rox

Rox complete sweep of Spirit with 8-4 win

July 17, 2005 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release


The Brockton Rox (3-0) exploded for four runs with two outs in the top of the eleventh inning to top the North Shore Spirit (0-3), 8-4. The victory completed a three-game sweep for the visiting Rox, their first road sweep of the season in the first series of the second half.

The victory also closed the book shut on the regular season career of Brockton shortstop Saul Bustos, who will retire after Tuesday night's All-Star Game between the Can-Am League and the Central Baseball League at Campanelli Stadium. Bustos collected three hits in six at-bats in the game, including a key single to drive in Brockton's seventh run. In the middle of the seventh inning, the North Shore public address announcer took a moment to recognize Bustos, and the partisan North Shore crowd showered the shortstop with applause.

Brockton starter Grant Dorn hurled seven innings in his second consecutive solid outing as a member of the Rox, giving up five hits and walking one while striking out four. He left with Brockton clinging to a 4-3 lead, pared from a 4-1 lead earlier in the game.

Eddie Aucoin came in from the bullpen to start the eighth inning, but allowed an infield single to the speedy Marcos Agramonte, who proceeded to swipe second base to put himself in scoring position. Rob Fischer followed with a bouncer toward right field that was snagged by a diving Andrew Salvo. Salvo's subsequent throw to first base was both too late and offline, allowing the hustling Agramonte to tie the game at 4.

Aucoin matched goose eggs with North Shore starter-turned-reliever Alex Herrera through the ninth and tenth frames, but Herrera could not keep pace in the eleventh.

With two outs and Jake Daubert on second, Salvo sent a groundball wide of first base. Herrera was late covering the bag, granting the Rox second baseman the opportunity to beat the throw from Vic Davilla to the pitcher. Daubert rounded third, saw the ball bounce away from Herrera and took off for home with the go-ahead run. From there, the Rox turned the usually intimidating deliveries of the Spirit southpaw into mere batting practice. Matt Cucurullo slammed a run-scoring double to deep right-centerfield; Bustos cracked an RBI single up the middle; and Brad Rosenblat crushed a double to deep left-center to score Bustos with the eighth Rox run.

Aucoin (1-0) locked down the Spirit offense one last time in the bottom of the eleventh for the victory. Herrera (4-1) took the loss despite a superb 5.1 inning effort in relief of starter Jake Mullis.

The Can-Am League will now take a three-day break for the Mid-Summer Classic. There are great seats still available for the All-Star Game, Tuesday at 7:05 in Brockton. Call the Rox box office at 508-559-7070.

Check out the Brockton Rox Statistics



Canadian American League Stories from July 17, 2005


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