Can-Am Brockton Rox

Rox Sweep Twinbill From Skyhawks

Published on August 24, 2010 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release


Augusta, N.J. - The Brockton Rox used a pair of complete-game efforts from their starting pitchers en route to a double-header sweep of the Sussex Skyhawks, 7-3, and, 9-3 on Tuesday night at Skylands Park.

In game one of the night, the Rox jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Both 1B Melvin Falu and RF Keith Brachold drove in runs with singles, and they were followed by C Chris Grossman's sacrifice fly. 3B Phillip Cuadrado then connected on a two-run homer to left field, his 11th of the season.

The Rox (21-14 second half, 48-34 overall) added two more in the second inning, which were both unearned due to two Skyhawks errors.

LHP Mike Wlodarczyk (10-3) was fantastic, going the full seven innings and allowing three runs (one earned) in the seventh inning and a total of seven hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. He now leads the league in strikeouts with 102, and is one of three pitchers with double-digit wins in the league, joining his teammate Mike Smith and Quebec's Matthew Rusch.

The Skyhawks (9-25, 34-46) scored their runs on a two-run double by LF Kraig Binick and an RBI groundout off the bat of CF Carl Loadenthal.

LHP Jeff Icenogle (5-6) was the loser for Sussex, as neither side used the bullpen, going seven innings and giving up seven runs (five earned) on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Game two saw more of the same from the Rox as they jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the first inning. DH Scott Wearne plated SS Dominic Ramoswith a single after Ramos had singled to begin the game and moved to second base on a throwing error by Sussex starting RHP Trevor Marcotte. Brachold added an RBI groundout, Grossman another sacrifice fly and then Cuadrado ended the first-inning scoring with an RBI single.

Brachold crushed his 14th home run of the season in the fourth inning, a three-run frame for the Rox, as Brockton increased their lead to 7-0. Brachold's homer was the 34th of his Brockton career which puts him alone for second all-time in Rox history.

The Rox added two more runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back RBI singles by Cuadrado and CF Mike Conroy. Sussex pushed across three runs in the bottom half of the inning on a three-run home run by 1B Kris Sanchez.

Rox starting RHP Freddy Flores matched Wlodarczyk with a complete game. Flores (9-2) surrendered the three runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Marcotte (0-1) took the loss for the Skyhawks after giving up seven runs on 12 hits in just 3.2 innings.

The win for Brockton is their 104th over the last two years, the most by any Rox team in history over a two-year span. Officially the team has yet to clinch a playoff spot due to the New Jersey Jackals playing a 92-game schedule.

The Rox can finish no worse than 48-46, while the Jackals can finish no better than 47-45, which would be percentage points higher. The magic number still sits at one for the Rox to make a return trip to the playoffs.

The finale of the three-game series with the Skyhawks is set for 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday night at Skylands Park. The Rox will then begin a four-game series at Worcester on Thursday night.

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Canadian American League Stories from August 24, 2010


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