(POMONA, NY) – The Rockland Boulders (20-15) fell to the Cuban National Team (8-7) Saturday night, by the score of 10-6 at Palisades Credit Union Park.
Errors cost the Boulders last night, and they found them again in the 2nd inning. An error by left fielder Mike Schwartz allowed Yosvani Alarcon to reach 2nd. He would score on an RBI single by Yasiel Santoya. Jefferson Delgado grounded out to the pitcher Gouin but he could not handle the ball and Delgado reached on the Boulders second error of the game and sixth of the series.
The Boulders batted around in a big bottom of the 2nd. Jared Schlehuber started the inning with a single, he would advance to second after Pat McKenna was hit by a pitch. Mike Fransoso got an RBI single and Mike Montville followed by drawing a walk to load the bases. An RBI groundout by Alex DeBellis gave the Boulders a 2-1 lead. Yosvany Torres was taken out after walking Jared McDonald. Junior Arrojo had an RBI single to give the Boulders a 3-1 lead. Marcus Nidiffer drew a bases loaded walk. The Boulders took a 4-1 lead into the 3rd inning.
Cuba cut the lead in half in the 3rd. A leadoff double by Julio Martinez came around to score. The Boulders committed their third error of the game in the inning as Pat McKenna bobbled the ball at second. The error would not come back to haunt them as Alex Gouin escaped the inning.
In the bottom half the Boulders got a 1-out double from Mike Fransoso. He would come home on the 2 run Home Run by Mike Montville. The Boulders had a 6-2 lead after three innings.
The Boulders were not able to hold the lead. Cuba would tack on two more runs in the 5th inning with an RBI triple by Luis Moiran and an RBI single by Yosvani Alarcon to cut the Boulders lead to 6-4.
Cuba would take the lead that they would not relinquish in the top half of the 6th. An RBI single by Juan Torriente and a 2 run Home Run by Yorbi Barroto made it 7-6 Cuba. Cuba would score twice in the top of the 7th when a two run RBI single by Raul Gonzalez made it 9-6. In the top of the 9th, with Yosvani Alarcon on third a passed ball through the legs of Alex DeBellis allowed Alarcon to score making it 10-6.
With the loss, Cuba has won the first series between the two teams. Mike Montville lead the Boulders with 2 RBIs going 2-4 on the evening. Yorbi Barroto led the way for the Cuban National Team with 3 RBIs going 3-4.
The Cuban National Team defeated the Rockland Boulders 10-6.
The Boulders continue their series against Cuba on Sunday afternoon, with the first pitch scheduled for 2 P.M. Former MLB All-Star and Cuban National Luis Tiant will throw out the first pitch. Tickets are available by visiting the box office, going to www.rocklandboulders.com, or by calling (845) 364-0009.