Rockland entered Thursday’s outing 1.5 games behind Quebec for the Can-Am League lead. It would stay that way after a back-breaking loss to Sussex County and a Capitales loss to New Jersey.

The Miners broke the ice in the first on a Jarred Mederos solo shot. In the second, Nate Irving hit one of his own to make it 2-0. That bulge wouldn’t last long as the Boulders posted three runs in the bottom half.

Mike Montville led off the inning with a bomb to left while Mikael Mogues drove in Jared McDonald on a homer into the ‘Short Porch.’

Sussex County starter Billy Roth’s night would end there. He finished with four hits, three earned runs and three walks. Daniel Carela, Mark McCoy, ElHajj Muhammad and Alex Demchak handled relief duties for the Miners.

Bo Budkevics on the other hand strung together six solid innings. He ended with five hits, two earned runs, seven strikeouts and five walks.

The contest got away from Rockland in the eighth after J.J. Fernandez took Jon Velasquez deep on a three-run blast. The home run came after a questionable call on an 0-2 count to keep Fernandez alive.

Velasquez would allow two more in the ninth on a single from Alexi Colon. The Boulders made things interesting by loading the bases to bring Joe Maloney to the plate, although they came away with just one run on a long Marcus Nidiffer sacrifice fly.

Rockland will resume action tomorrow at Palisades Credit Union Park to begin an enormous series against Quebec. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.