Boulders Drop Tension Filled Game, 3-2

In a game filled with hit batters, ejections, and a bench-clearing argument, the Rockland Boulders fell in the series finale, 3-2, against the Pittsfield Colonials on Thursday night in Can-Am League baseball action.

Tension between Rockland and Pittsfield escalated in the second inning.  Pittsfield’s starter, Chad Paronto threw a pitch behind Ryde Rodriguez, which resulted in both benches clearing.  No fists were thrown and the umpires did not eject anyone.  Both benches would later be warned after Bobby Blevins hit Danny Bomback with a pitch for the second time.  Blevins would pitch a complete game for Rockland allowing three runs on six hits, while walking one and striking out five.

Later in the game, Ray Stokes would get thrown out trying to steal third. Stokes and third base coach, Damian Rolls, were both ejected for arguing on the call by umpire Matt Criss.

Pittsfield scored the first run of the game in the third.  Quentin Davis doubled and was then driven home by the leadoff batter, Jerod Edmonson, to give the Colonials an early one run lead.  After Blevins hit the next batter with a pitch, Billy Mottram singled down the right field line to score Edmonson and make the game 2-0.

The Colonials went back to work in the fifth. Angel Molina drove in Bomback on a single that was out of the reach of the second baseman, Cole Kraft, to put Pittsfield up by three.

Rockland got on the board in the sixth with their only runs coming from back-to-back homers by Barry Wesson and Norm Hutchins making the score 3-2.

The Boulders (12-16, 31-43) will begin a three game series against the New Jersey Jackals (18-12, 45-32) tonight.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

John Muller (2-5) will make his eleventh start for the Boulders as he faces off against New Jersey’s, A.J. Wideman (4-2).