Photo Caption - Marcus Nidiffer hit a pair of home runs but a ninth-inning rally came up short in the Rockland Boulders' 8-5 loss to the Quebec Capitales at Stade Canac. (credit - Drew Wohl, Rockland Boulders)

The Rockland Boulders put the tying runs on base in the final inning but fell short in an 8-5 loss to the Quebec Capitales at Stade Canac in Quebec City.

Marcus Nidiffer's first inning homer staked the visitors to a quick 2-0 lead but Quebec responded with five unanswered runs to take a 5-2 lead into the eighth inning. JC Rodriguez hit a two-run shot to draw Rockland within one, but the Capitales posted three insurance tallies in the bottom half.

That proved to be crucial as Nidiffer hit his second of the game and 15th of the season leading off the ninth, and the Boulders loaded the bases before reliever Nolan Becker recorded the final two outs to close out the decision for starter Arik Sikula.  Brian Ernst started and took the loss for Rockland, dropping to 1-1 on the season.

The four-game weekend series wraps up on Sunday in a 1:05 pm start as the Boulders look for the split. They then travel to face the Sussex County Miners in a brief two-game set on Tuesday and Wednesday before the Capitales visit Palisades Credit Union Park to begin an eight-game homestand on Thursday, July 19.