Glen Johnson Has Big Game In His Debut in Boulders Victory

NEWARK, NJ – The Rockland Boulders broke their five-game losing streak with a 6-5 win over the Newark Bears Friday night at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Can-Am League baseball action.

Rookie Glen Johnson, son of Mets World Series champion Howard Johnson, made a big debut for the Boulders, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and making a pair of diving stops in the bottom of the ninth to help record the final two outs.

The Boulders struck early in the top of the first inning after an RBI single from Jeremy Slayden brought home Ray Stokes from third base.  Stokes reached first base to lead off the game on an error, and then stole second and third to put himself in scoring position.

Newark answered in the home half of the first with three hits to take a 2-1 lead over Rockland.  Ryan Walsh and Eric McGee both drove in runs for the Bears off of Boulders’ starter Brett Carroll.

Rockland though, exploded for a combined five unanswered runs on five hits in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, which was highlighted by the two-run blast from Johnson.

With Rockland leading 6-2, the Bears would then answer back in the bottom of the sixth with three runs on three hits off Rockland’s relief pitcher Kent Worthington to cut the deficit to 6-5, however it was not enough.

Carroll picked up his first win of the season, throwing five strong innings allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three.  Bears’ starter Casey Gaynor was charged with the loss.

Adrian Martin had a perfect ninth to preserve the victory and collect his league leading 21^st save.