Can-Am Brockton Rox

Rox drop third straight, fall to .500 for first time since opening day

July 3, 2011 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release


Pittsfield, Mass. - The Brockton Rox (17-17) jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings, but the Pittsfield Colonials (19-16) fought all the way back, scoring seven unanswered runs to take the series opener 7-5 at Wahconah Park on Saturday night.

Miguel Flores (1-4) struggled early on, allowing five runs on seven hits in the first two innings, before settling down and holding the Rox offense hitless over the next four frames. He lasted six and 1/3 innings, giving up nine hits, while walking one and striking out five to earn his first victory of the season.

Brockton jumped on Flores from the get-go as the first three batters of the game each reached on singles, sparking a first inning three-run rally, capped off by a two-run base knock from Ryan Royster.

Dominic Ramos got things started once again in the second with a lead off double and scored after a Chris Valencia sacrifice bunt and a Melvin Falu sacrifice fly to centerfield. Brockton made the score 5-0 when Trey Hernandez doubled plating Keith Brachold later in the frame.

Mike Smith (3-4) looked sharp for Brockton through the first three frames, before trouble mounted in the fourth. Matt Nandin opened the inning with a double and was driven home two outs later by Angel Molina's RBI single. Johnny Welch was next to the plate and blasted his ninth homerun of the season to cut the lead to two.

The offense continued to roll for the Colonials, scoring a run in the fifth and then two more in the sixth on back-to-back RBI singles from Scott Knazek and Quentin Davis to take a 6-5 lead, completing the comeback.

The final damage came on a solo home run by Danny Bomback against Daniel Schmidt in the seventh.

Smith took the loss, tossing six innings, giving up six runs (5 ER) on eight hits, while walking two and striking out three.

After back-to-back one-out singles chased Flores in the seventh, Brockton's bats came up flat against reliever Rafael Lluberes (2) in the final innings. The lefthander sat down Hernandez and Jorge Jimenez to end the seventh, followed by striking out the side in the eighth and dealing a perfect ninth to collect his second save.

Brachold went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in the loss, while Falu finished the night with two hits and an RBI. Welch went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

The roadtrip continues Sunday evening with first pitch called for 5:00 p.m. as Dustin Birosak (3-0) takes the mound in search of a team high fourth win. The last of three games is set for Monday night at 6:30 p.m. on Independence Day. The Rox return home to Campanelli Stadium to open a four game set with the Federals beginning Wednesday June 6.

Check out the Brockton Rox Statistics



Canadian American League Stories from July 3, 2011


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