Boulders Drop Pair of One-Run Games in Worcester, 6-5, 3-2

The had a tough afternoon Sunday in Massachusetts, falling in a twin-bill to the Worcester Tornadoes in Worcester, 6-5 and 3-2.

The Tornadoes have now taken six of the 16 meetings between the teams this season. The double-header was necessitated when Saturday night’s contest was rained out, and Worcester took two of the three games in the weekend set.

Jerod Edmondson's walk-off RBI single was the difference as the Worcester Tornadoes beat the Rockland Boulders 6-5 in the first game of a double-header Sunday afternoon. Rockland trailed 4-2 after four innings, but scored three in the fifth to take the lead, with the big blow a two-run single by Phil Cuadrado.  But the Tornadoes battled back, tying the game in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Cam Kneeland.

Pat Moran pitched into the sixth inning for the Boulders, allowing five runs (four earned), but did not factor in the decision. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Kneeland hit a lead-off single, moved to second on a walk, advanced to third on a fielder's choice, then scored on Edmondson's single.  Garrett Johnson (3-2) took the loss for the Boulders.

The nightcap was equally frustrating for the visitors, who scored first against Tornadoes starter Walker McKinven, who had not fared well in his first two starts. Keith Brachold’s league-leading 21st home run put Rockland ahead while Jon Velasquez appeared to be in charge until a wild spell proved costly in the third. 

After retiring his first seven straight opponents, Velasquez walked the next two batters, both of whom came around to score to put Worcester in front. The Boulders tied the game in the fourth on Ryan Mollica’s RBI single, but the home squad answered with Tony Patane’s second home run of the season in the fifth, to provide the final margin of victory. Velasquez fell to 4-5 on the campaign, with McKinven improving to 1-2 and Nick Serino claiming save number eight.

The Boulders return to Provident Bank Park to start an eight-game homestand with their second double-header in two days when they host the Newark Bears today. First pitch is set for 5:00 pm in the opener of what is slated as a five-game series going through Thursday.

They will then host the American Association’s Kansas City T-Bones for three games from Friday through Sunday.