Blevins Outduels Pavlik To Lead Boulders To Victory

The Rockland Boulders found themselves on the right side of a pitcher’s duel Sunday evening, as they took down the New Jersey Jackals, 2-1, in Can-Am League action.

Bobby Blevins shined in Sunday’s matchup with the Jackals, tossing eight innings and giving up just one run.  He gave up just four hits over the eight innings and struck out four New Jersey batters.  Blevins’ effort earned him his fifth win of the season.

On the other side, New Jersey’s starter Isaac Pavlik went the full eight innings for the Jackals.  He gave up two runs, which was enough for the Boulders to give Pavlik his first loss of the season.

Blevins held the Jackals hitless until the top of the fourth.  Mike DeJesus led the inning off with a double to right field.  He then moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Myron Leslie’s single to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead.

Rockland bounced back in the bottom of the inning.  Mike Richard led off with his second single of the game, and then stole his second base of the game.  Cole Kraft then drew a walk from Pavlik to put runners on first and second with nobody out.  Scott Clement followed with an RBI single to right to even the score.  Jeremy Slayden singled after Clement to bring in another run and give the Boulders the lead.

That was it for the scoring in Sunday’s contest, making for one of the quickest games of the season for the Boulders at Provident Bank Park.

Rockland closer Adrian Martin came on in the ninth and increased his league lead to 12 saves on the season.

The Boulders (1-0, 20-27) will take on the New Jersey Jackals at Provident Bank Park tonight in game two of the three-game series.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.