Boulders Winning Streak Halted in Series Loss at Trois-Rivieres

Having won two out of three games last weekend at New Jersey, the Rockland Boulders were on roll having won seven out of their last nine games and moving within one game of the first place Sussex County Miners. A quick three-game road trip to Canada to face the Trois-Rivieres Aigles for the first time this season would ensue followed by returning back home to Palisades Credit Union Park to open up a six-game home stand.

After a day off on Monday, the Boulders returned to action on Tuesday with an early start at noon time. Despite having to travel on their off day, Rockland displayed no fatigue at all peppering Can-Am League Pitcher of the Week Kevin McNorton for seven runs in the first four innings. Collin Ferguson and Adam Ehrlich each drove in two runs apiece while John Brontsema collected three hits and scored two runs.

Justin Valdespina tossed five innings yielding one run on three hits, walking three and striking out six to earn his first win of the season. Landon Holifield and JoshTurner hurled four shutout innings allowing just one hit and fanning seven as Rockland cruised to a 10-1 victory.

On Wednesday night at Stade Stereo + Trois-Rivieres wasted no time jumping out to an early advantage tagging Boulders starter Tommy Shirley with five runs in the first three innings of play. Rockland managed to get back into the contest tallying three runs in the fourth but that would be as close as they would get with the Aigles bullpen permitting just one hit in three and two-thirds and whiffing five.

In the series finale, Richie Fecteau put the Boulders in the second inning belting his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot over the right field wall. However, Trois-Rivieres answered back in the three times off starter Reinaldo Lopez(2-2). The Aigles added a couple of late runs for the 6-3 win.

“The first game we come out at 11 a.m. traveled the day before and bats were hot and a good win,” said manager Kevin Baez on the series. “The next two days we couldn’t get anything together and their pitching held up. We lost a couple of close games for the most part, a couple of situations where we ran into an out. On the third day, Fecteau hits a two-run homer and then Lopez has a bad inning they score three runs. Their bullpen held up for the most part.

“We just got in at eight this morning, a long travel day and part of the league and not making excuses. Hopefully the guys got their rest and kicking it off against a good Jackals team. I’m getting to know the team and so are they with the coaching staff. The guys are playing well and stepping up, the pitching staff has been outstanding when we were struggling offensively.”

Currently the Boulders are 14-10 and one and half games behind the Miners for first place in the Can-Am League standings. New Jersey is tied with Ottawa for third place with a record of 12-12. First pitch on Friday night at Palisades Credit Union Park is set for 7:00 p.m. with Rockland starter JD Busfield returning from disabled list opposing David Richardson.