Strong Pitching Pushes Boulders In Game Two Victory Over Tornadoes

The Rockland Boulders evened up their series with the Worcester Tornadoes on the back of their pitching staff with a 4-2 victory in Can-Am League action at Provident Bank Park in Pomona Thursday night

Rockland starter Bobby Blevins tossed 6 2/3 innings, giving up just two runs with his season high eight strikeouts to earn his fourth victory.  Boulders closer Adrian Martin pitched the final two innings, giving up one hit en route to his league leading 10^th save of the season.

“I enjoy these type of games, those nail biters,” said manager, Dave LaPoint.  “Big players rise to the occasion.  Nobody’s been bigger than [closer] Adrian Martin this year.”

The Boulders got off to a hot start against Worcester starter Kevin Cooper.  After Sean Smith walked to lead off the game for Rockland, back-to-back singles by Vic Buttler and Cristobal Santana brought Smith around to score the first run of the game.  Scott Clement contributed with a double off the monster in centerfield that plated two more to give the Boulders a 3-0 lead after the first.

Worcester (16-23) got itself on the board for the first time in the top of the third.  With Chris Colabello on second, Mark Minicozzi hit a single that allowed Colabello to score and bring the Tornadoes within two.

After retiring eight batters in a row, Blevins gave up a deep solo home run to Alex Nunez in the top of the seventh to tighten up the score, 3-2.

Clement led off the home half of the seventh with his second double of the game.  After being sacrificed to third by Ryan Mollica, Clement scored on Ryde Rodriguez’s line drive single up the middle, which gave the Boulders a 4-2 lead.

The Boulders (16-21) will play the third of the four games against the Worcester Tornadoes at Provident Bank Park tonight.  First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.

Rockland’s lefty Roger Lincoln (1-3) makes his seventh start of the season Friday evening against Worcester’s ace, Zach Zuercher (5-3).