Week in Review

The Rockland Boulders have struggled over the last 10 games, winning just three of them, and a 3-4 week sees the team fall 1.5 games behind Quebec in the Can-Am League, good for second place. The club is playing above the level that many expected, and it is the close games that are proving to be their downfall. The Boulders dropped four one-run games this week, a major reason why they are just four games over .500 instead of in first place.

Following an 8-3 loss to the Quebec Capitales last week Thursday, the two clubs continued their four-game series on Friday. Rockland trailed 2-1 entering into the eighth, but scored a run to tie it, only to see the Capitales retake the lead with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Again Rockland tied it in the top of the ninth only to see themselves lose on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth.

The Boulders rebounded in the Saturday contest. Rockland scored first, plating a run in the second inning, but Quebec tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. The game remained 1-1 heading into extra-innings where the visitors won with a run in the top of the 11th inning. Marcus Nidiffer hit his Can-Am League leading seventh home run in the victory.

The final game saw Quebec jump out to a 3-0 lead, but the Boulders battled back to pull within one. That is as close as they would get, falling 3-2, and losing three of four from their rival.

The Boulders moved onto Ottawa to play a three-game series with Champions. In the first game, a four-run third inning staked the visitors to the early lead, and they walked away with a 5-3 win. Steve Nyisztor went 3-5 with a run and 2 RBI in the win. Richard Salazar moved to 4-0 and Luis Sanz earned his fourth save, striking out three in his 1.2 innings of work.

In the second game of the series Rockland trailed 3-1 after three, but got single runs in the fourth and eighth to tie the game. That did not last long, as Ottawa scored one in the bottom of the eighth to win 4-3.

In the final game of the series, a five-run third inning staked the Champions to a 6-2 lead, but the Boulders showed that there is no quit in them. They scored single runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to make it a one-run game, but could not get the equalizer and fell 6-5.

Thursday night the Rockland Boulders returned home to face the visiting Shikoku Island All-Star team. The Boulders gave up a run in the first inning, then scored 10 unanswered runs on their way to a 14-3 win. Alex Gouin won his first game of the year with five-innings of one-run ball. Jared McDonald had two hits and three RBI from the lead-off position, and Stefen Henderson added three hits and three RBI in the win.

June 12 – Quebec 4, Rockland 3
June 13 – Rockland 2, Quebec 1
June 14 – Quebec 3, Rockland 2
June 15 – Rockland 5, Ottawa 3
June 16 – Ottawa 4, Rockland 3
June 17 – Ottawa 6, Rockland 5
June 18 – Rockland 14, Shikoku Island 3

Record: 14-10, 1.5 games out of first (2nd).

Who’s Hot

Joe Maloney continues his hot start, hitting in all but one game this week. He was 9-32 with 7 runs and 2 RBI. He has scored at least one run in the last five games, and added a stolen base in each of the last three.

Transactions

On June 14, LHP JD Reichenbach was activated from the disabled list and LHP Shawn Gilblair was placed on the list retroactive to June 8. Reichenbach is 0-3 in his three starts.

On June 16 Gilblair was activated from the disabled list and Reichenbach was returned. Gilblair has yet to be score on in his five relief appearances and has a win.

Two days later catcher Devin DeYoung was signed.

By Robert Pannier