Back-to-back first inning homers were not enough as the Rockland Boulders ushered in the Kevin Baez era with a 6-3 loss to the Sussex County Miners at Palisades Credit Union Park.

Sussex, defending Can-Am League champs, got on the board first on the strength of a Jared Mederos homer in the first, but Matt Oberste and Collin Ferguson each went deep in the bottom half to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.

That was short-lived as Nick Zaharion followed with a two-run shot in the visiting second and the Miners held the lead from there. Cory Jones threw six strong innings to earn the win with Ryan Newell coming on for the save, while Tommy Shirley was tagged with the loss for Rockland.

The season-opening four-game split series shifts to Augusta, NJ, on Friday night before returning to Palisades Credit Union Park for a 6:30 pm start on Satuday, May 18. The set concludes on Sunday back at Sussex.