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Can-Am Brockton Rox

Rox shock New Jersey, 7-6

August 27, 2005 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release


Steve Checksfield ran through a stop sign at third and was easily thrown out at home plate for the final out of a Brockton Rox (24-11) 7-6 eleven-inning victory over the stunned New Jersey Jackals (17-20).

In the top half of the frame, Brad Rosenblat's RBI double off starting leftfielder Horace Lawrence gave the Rox their first lead of the night. It was Brockton's seventh straight unanswered run.

New Jersey knocked out Brockton starter Grant Dorn early, compiling a 6-0 lead through the fifth inning. Meanwhile, Jackals starter Joel Bennett was dominating the Rox lineup, limiting the visitors to just two hits over five innings.

Brockton scratched its way back into the game with solo tallies in the sixth and seventh against Bennett. In the eighth, Eddie Gerald's RBI single off reliever Randy Rapp brought the Rox within 6-3.

For the ninth inning, New Jersey manager Joe Calfapietra brought in new acquisition Shawn Morgan. With one out, Eugene Julien's base hit brought home Brian Jones with Brockton's fourth run. Jake Daubert followed with a high bouncer over first base, driving in Matt Cucurullo. Rightfielder Checksfield's throw back to the infield went awry, allowing Julien to score as well, and the game was tied.

After a scoreless tenth, Brockton went ahead in the eleventh thanks in part to a freak injury that caused the exit of reliever James Mondesir with two out and runners on first and second. In from leftfield came Lawrence, who had begun 2005 as a pitcher for the GCL Mets. Rosenblat greeted him with a double to left-center, sending home Gerald with the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the eleventh, Eddie Aucoin retired the first two batters before Checksfield reached on a single. A Benji Gil line drive down the rightfield line looked to put runners at the corners for New Jersey, but Checksfield rumbled around third in a desperate attempt to score. Quick relays from Gerald to second baseman Andrew Salvo to catcher Jones left no doubt to the outcome of Checksfield's gamble.

The victory coupled with North Shore's loss to the Can-Am Grays expands Brockton's lead in the North Division to 3.5 games and reduces the Rox magic number to eight.

Aucoin (5-0) picked up the victory, hurling four crucial scoreless innings. Mondesir (1-1) received the loss, lasting just two-thirds of an inning before his unfortunate injury.

On Saturday at 7:05, Brockton and New Jersey meet for the middle affair of their three-game series. Kevin Beavers (5-4, 3.71) takes the mound for the Rox against the Jackals' Isaac Pavlik (5-5, 3.03).

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