What A Night: Rox Finally Shake Off Skyhawks, 12-11
Published on August 2, 2010 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Brockton Rox News Release
Brockton, Mass. - One night after edging Sussex in a 2-0 pitchers' duel, the Brockton Rox, aided by SS Dominic Ramos' 3-for-4 evening, broke out the lumber and defeated the Skyhawks, 12-11, in a wild Can-Am League matchup at Campanelli Stadium on Monday evening.
Brockton (7-7 second half, 34-27 overall) kicked things off with a six-run second inning on just four hits, starting with an RBI single from DH Derek Kinzler, followed by a sacrifice fly by 2B Shawn Williams, a bases-loaded walk to RF Keith Brachold, and a bases-clearing double by 3B Phillip Cuadrado.
Sussex (3-10, 28-31) halved the Rox lead in the fourth, as CF Carl Loadenthal knocked a leadoff triple and was brought in on DH Caleb Stewart 's sacrifice fly. 1B Kris Sanchez then made it a 6-2 game with a solo home run, and 3B Nick Giarraputo later brought home C Ryan Boelsen with an RBI single.
In the sixth, Brockton tacked on a run to make the score 7-3, with Williams driving home Ramos on a two-out single.
The run lead wouldn't stand, though as Sussex immediately roared back with a four-run seventh inning; LF Kraig Binick singled, stole second, moved to third on an error by Rox C Chris Grossman, and darted home on a wild pitch. Stewart then drove in SS Chase Fontaine with a single before Boelsen tied things up at seven with a two-run double of his own off of Rox reliever Josh Papelbon.
Brockton regained the lead in the eighth, scoring four two-out runs. With men on first and second, 1B Melvin Falu hit a routine grounder to shortstop that would have ended the inning, but Fontaine's errant throw to first allowed Falu to reach and Ramos to score the go-ahead run. The next pitch, Brachold blasted a three-run shot into the Massachusetts evening to put the Rox ahead, 11-7.
Sussex did not go quietly in the ninth, loading the bases with two outs off of Rox reliever Brad Hertzler, courtesy of two singles and a catcher's interference. Giarraputo and 2B Joe Perischina then hit back-to-back RBI singles, before Binick drove in two more with a single of his own to tie the game at 11.
In its half of the ninth, Brockton loaded the bases with no outs, as Grossman walked, LF Mike Conroy reached on an error, and Ramos was walked intentionally. After reliever Jared Locke fanned Kinzler, CF Chris Valencia hit a soft liner to shortstop; Fontaine caught the ball for the second out of the inning, but made a wild throw to third in an attempt to double off Grossman, who scampered home for the game-winning run.
On the Brockton side of a messy box score, Ramos and Williams, who went 2-for-2 with two RBI, were the only players who had multiple hits; despite having only 10 base knocks, the Rox were able to use nine Sussex walks and four Skyhawks errors to their advantage.
For Sussex, Loadenthal, Boelsen, Stewart and Giarraputo each had three hits. The Skyhawks' 17 base knocks tied a season-high for hits allowed by Rox pitching; the team also gave up the same number two other times, most recently taking place on July 27 at New Jersey.
Rox starter Freddy Flores received a no-decision, allowing five runs on nine hits in six and one-third innings, fanning six. Despite laboring through a 40-pitch ninth inning, Hertzler picked up the victory in relief. Sussex starter Will Hassett was chased early, going just four innings in his Skyhawks debut and allowing five earned runs. Locke picked up the loss.
In sharp comparison to Sunday evening's one-hour, fifty-one-minute game, the shortest in club history, Monday's contest moseyed along at a 3:43 clip.
The Rox travel north of the border to start a three-game series at Quebec on Tuesday evening, with Jose Aquino (0-1) facing the Capitales' Troy Cate (2-3) at 7:05 p.m.
Canadian American League Stories from August 2, 2010
- Can-Am League Recap - Can-Am
- What A Night: Rox Finally Shake Off Skyhawks, 12-11 - Brockton Rox
- Taylor, Zaleski Can-Am Players of the Month - Can-Am
- Hawks Lose to Rox in Pitcher's Duel - Sussex Skyhawks
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