Newark Bears Stop Rockland Boulders From Sweeping Series

Well, you can't win them all.

The Rockland Boulders (2-1), the new Can-Am League baseball team based on Provident Park in Pomona, had its first loss Saturday night as the Newark Bears (1-2) stopped the Boulders from sweeping the three-game opering series of the 2011 season.

The Rockland Boulders dropped the last game of the series in the Newark 16-4. Newark got to Boulders’ starter Jon Velasquez early with four runs in the bottom of the first.  Bears’ third baseman Todd Gossage capped the inning off with a bases clearing single after Eric Flynn missed a diving catch down the left field line.

Tim Raines, Jr. added to the 4-0 Newark lead with a solo blast over the left field fence, which was also his first hit of the season in a Bears’ uniform. The center fielder was not done, as he sent a three-run shot over the left field fence for his second homerun of the game, which was part of another four run inning for the Bears in the third.

Velasquez exited after three, allowing nine runs on nine hits. Rockland, though, cut into the Bears’ 9-0 lead in the top of the fifth, led by rookie Mark Hill who drove home two on a double into left field.  Flynn sacrificed Hill home from third, however, Raines Jr. collected his fifth RBI of the night in the bottom half of the inning giving Newark a 10-3 edge after five.

The Bears added one off an RBI single from Billy Alvino, his seventh hit of the series, in the bottom of the sixth to take an 11-3 advantage. Tommy Giles picked up his second RBI of the season in the seventh for Rockland, as his single scored Todd Jennings from the third. Newark wouldn’t rest on the lead, scoring five more in the bottom of the frame behind a two RBI double from Jeff Toth to bring the score to 16-4.

Velasquez suffered the loss in his debut, while Newark starter Kyle Lobban gets his first win throwing five innings and striking out two. The Boulders move to 2-1 on the season, as they head to Pittsfield, MA, to take on the Colonials at 2 p.m. today for a four game set.

John Muller gets the start for Rockland, while Daniel Cevette throws for Pittsfield.