Hage’s Big Debut, Blevins Complete Game Give Boulders Victory

The Rockland Boulders shook up their roster before Saturday’s matchup with the Newark Bears (18-17), and it seemed like the change worked. 

Newcomer Joe Hage lead the way for the Boulders and helped them to a 5-4 victory over the Bears in Can-Am League action at Provident Bank Park in Pomona.

Hage went 3-for-4 on Saturday with two doubles, a solo home run and three RBIs in his Provident Bank Park debut.

“Joey had a great day and it’s going to be hard to repeat that,” said manager Dave LaPoint.  “He’s a great story.  Medical problems almost killed him and no one gave him a chance.  We are the lucky team that did.”

Bobby Blevins went the complete game for the Boulders, giving up just three earned runs on six hits.  Blevins only struck out one batter, but he forced 14 groundouts in his third victory of the season.

Sean Smith, taking over as the Boulders’ leadoff hitter, took the second pitch of the at-bat out of the stadium to left field.  Rockland scored again in the second inning when Hage hit a double that plated Ryan Mollica.  Ray Stokes followed Hage with a ground-rule double to leave the Boulders with a 3-0 lead after two.

Former major leaguer Daryle Ward got the Bears on the board in the top of the fourth.  Ward hit a solo shot into the billboard monster seats in right-center, his fifth of the season, to bring Newark within two runs.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Mollica singled to right for his second hit of the night.  Hage then brought him home, after he drove a ball into the corner of the grandstands in left-centerfield for a two-run home run to give the Boulders a 5-1 lead.

The Bears got one back in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Billy Alvino that plated Danny Santiesteban.  The damage could have been more severe had it not been for Vic Buttler, who made an outstanding diving catch in left field on a line drive off the bat of Pat Biserta.

Newark threatened quickly in the top of the eighth.  Ryan Walsh stood on third after Bobby Blevins was called for a balk.  With runners at the corners, Tim Raines Jr. grounded out to Hage at second, allowing Walsh to score.  After Ward was walked intentionally, a ground ball to Hage took a bad hop and he could not make the play, bringing around another run to score for the Bears, making the score 5-4 in favor of Rockland.

The score would remain the same as Blevins threw a one-two-three ninth inning to finish his first complete game as a Boulder.

All three of Rockland’s new starters, including designated hitter Ryde Rodriguez and catcher Scott Clement, recorded base hits in their first game in a Boulders uniform.

“The new faces were swinging the bat ok, which takes the pressure off the guys who were already there,” said LaPoint.

The Boulders (13-19) will play game the second of a three game series at Provident Bank Park against the Bears tonight.  First pitch is still scheduled for 7:05 p.m. 

Tonight is 3D Fireworks Night at Provident Bank Park.The first 6,000 fans in attendance will receive 3D glasses sponsored by Ramsey Auto Group.  

Rockland sends its only left-handed starter Roger Lincoln (1-3) to the hill to take on Newark’s Casey Gaynor (1-0).