(AUGUSTA, NJ) – The Rockland Boulders (22-17) defeated the Sussex County Miners (14-25) 6-3 on Thursday night to take the series. This was the Boulders first series win after dropping three straight to Shikoku Island, New Jersey, and Cuba.
Sussex County got right to work against Boulders lefty Richard Salazar in the 1st. Leadoff man Carl Thomore singled to get things started. He moved up to 2nd after picking up his 12th stolen base of the year. The next hitter, Dominique Taylor doubled him in to give Sussex County a 1-0 lead. Salazar would settle down though to retire the final three batters of the inning.
Rockland answered right back in the top of the 2nd. Pat McKenna started the inning with a triple. Mike Montville then picked up the game tying RBI groundout. Newly acquired Elvin Soto followed with a single in his first at bat as a Boulder, but that would be all they would get the rest of the inning.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the 3rd, when Boulder shortstop Junior Arrojo committed an error on a Jay Austin groundball. Carl Thomore would score to give Sussex County the lead at 2-1.
The Boulders would send seven men up to the plate in the top of the 4th. Pat McKenna, Mike Montville, and Elvin Soto led off with three straight singles. Ed Charlton hit into a fielder’s choice that scored a run to tie the game at 2. Jared McDonald followed with an RBI groundout to give the Boulders a 3-2 lead. An RBI single from Junior Arrojo drove in the third run of the inning to make it 4-2. Pitcher Richard Salazar followed by posting a 0 in the bottom half. The Miners would tack on 1 more run in 5th making it 4-3.
Both teams were held scoreless till the 9th when Junior Arrojo led off the inning with his 5th home run of the season to give the Boulders a 5-3 lead. Jared Schlehuber knocked in Mike Fransoso later in the inning giving the Boulders a 6-3 lead.
Salazar (5-2) got the win going seven innings, allowing three runs on four hits striking out nine. The loss was charged to Joe Donino (1-4) who pitch 4.1 innings allowing four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts.
The Boulders return to Palisades Credit Union Park tomorrow as they begin a four game series against Trois-Rivieres Aigles. Tickets are available by visiting the box office, going to www.rocklandboulders.com, or by calling (845) 364-0009.