Rox End Cutters Playoff Hopes With 6-4 Win In Connecticut
Published on August 30, 2007 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release
West Haven, CT (August 30, 2007) - 1B Francisco Lebron ripped a bases- clearing three-run double in the top of the sixth inning and RHP Mike McTamney allowed just three runs in seven innings of work as the Brockton Rox crushed the final playoff hopes of the New Haven County Cutters with a 6-4 win in West Haven, CT. CF Matt Maloney had a two- hit game for the Rox while RHP Amad Stephens gave up a run in the ninth but hung on for his ninth save of the season. Friday night the Rox and Cutters play the final game of a four-game series, a series which the Rox lead 2-1. The Rox are now 41-48 overall with a 21-22 second-half record with just four games left in 2007.
After stranding four runners in the first two innings, the Rox got on the scoreboard in the third. With two outs, DH John Allen and RF Tony Gonzalez had back-to-back singles, and LF Jerod Edmondson drew a walk. Falu stepped in against Cutters' starter RHP Bucky Kosyk and plated Allen and Gonzalez with a single over the second base bag, giving Brockton a 2-0 lead. McTamney did not allow a hit in the first four innings, but a pair of hits including a two-run single by 2B Matt Mercurio tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
In the sixth inning, the Rox loaded the bases against Kosyk with two hits and a walk. C Lee Rubin drove in the go-ahead run with a fielders' choice groundout, but the Cutters could only get one out on the play. Their inability to turn a double play on the grounder was costly. With the bases loaded later in inning, the Cutters went to their bullpen for RHP Matt Salvato. Lebron crushed the reliever's first pitch to the right-center field gap, plating Falu, CF Matt Maloney, and 2B Alex Nunez and putting the Rox in front 6-2. Lebron is now third in Rox history with 57 RBI in a single-season.
The Cutters scored an unearned run against McTamney in the seventh inning but the Rox starter allowed just three runs (two earned) in his 13th quality start. McTamney tied a Can-Am League record by stepping onto the rubber at Yale Field for his 21st start of the season. He gave up five hits in the game and struck out five. RHP Matt Reilly pitched a scoreless eighth, fanning Can-Am All-Star DH Jeremy Pickrel with a runner on base to keep the Rox in front 6-3. Stephens gave up a single and hit a batter to open the ninth but proceeded to retire the next three batters, allowing a run in the process but the Rox finished in front 6-4.
Friday night at Yale Field, the Rox send RHP Chris Martin (1-2, 6.60 ERA) to the hill to face LHP Ryan Bonesio (7-5, 3.73 ERA).
Canadian American League Stories from August 30, 2007
- Can-Am League Recap - Can-Am
- Disputed Call In Ninth Leads To Jackals Loss - New Jersey Jackals
- Tornadoes Squander Big Lead, Lose To Sussex - Worcester Tornadoes
- Cutters' postseason hopes end - New Haven County Cutters
- Rox End Cutters Playoff Hopes With 6-4 Win In Connecticut - Brockton Rox
- Monkey Boy to Make a Special Appearance for Last Homestand of the Season - American Defenders of New Hampshire
- Former Rox RHP John Kelly named to All-Star Team - Brockton Rox
- Can-Am League announces Postseason All-Star Team - Can-Am
- Perry named to Can-Am League Postseason All-Star Team - Worcester Tornadoes
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