Rox hit 50-win mark for third season in franchise history
Published on August 31, 2009 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release
BROCKTON, MA - (August 31, 2009) - Only two previous Brockton Rox teams have won 50 games in a single season. On Monday night at Campanelli Stadium, the 2009 Brockton Rox became the third team with an 8-5 win over the American Defenders of New Hampshire. RHP Wayne Lundgren improved to 9-5, RF Keith Brachold hit his 13th home run of the season, and SS Dominic Ramos drove in three runs.
The game was tight early on, and both teams held the lead at least once during the night. New Hampshire jumped on the board first with an unearned first-inning run. LF Rafael Cabreja scored on an RBI ground out by C Zane Chavez putting the Defenders on top 1-0.
The game remained in favor of the visitors until the third inning, when RF Keith Brachold hit a three-run home run into the beer garden in right field, his second home run in as many nights, to put the Rox in front 3-1.
New Hampshire battled back against Lundgren though. The Defenders scratched across two runs in the fifth inning on an RBI triple by RF Heath Keel who later scored on a wild pitch. An inning later, and now within a run at 4-3, New Hampshire was able to tie the game on an RBI single by CF Stephen Pinto.
The game remained tied, and the starting pitchers remained in the contest until the seventh inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Defenders' starter RHP Francisco Cervantes walked the first to batters he faced and was lifted for reliever RHP David Wasylak after a flyout put runners at second and third base with one out. Then Ramos, who had already driven in a run for the Rox, drilled a two-run single to center which put Brockton in front to stay. He would later score, as would Brachold behind him, and the Rox lead was 8-4.
The Rox bullpen took over with Lundgren as the pitcher of record and with an 8-4 lead. LHP Brad Hertzler gave the Rox a scoreless eighth inning, and after RHP Matt Zachary struggled in the ninth, closer RHP Jerry Dunn came on in a save situation. New Hampshire scored a run in the ninth, but Dunn recorded the final two outs and earned his 22nd save of the year.
The Rox and Defenders match up again on Tuesday night at Campanelli Stadium as Brockton seeks its franchise-record 51st win of the year. LHP Craig Anderson (7-4, 3.76 ERA) will take the ball for the Rox opposite New Hampshire's RHP Miguel Flores (6-4, 5.00 ERA). Tuesday night's first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM.
Canadian American League Stories from August 31, 2009
- Can-Am League Recap - Can-Am
- Rox hit 50-win mark for third season in franchise history - Brockton Rox
- Skyhawks fall in series opener, 6-4 - Sussex Skyhawks
- LaForest, Long Tabbed Players of the Week - Can-Am
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
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