BROCKTON, MA – (May 30, 2009) – On Saturday night the Brockton Rox scored the first two runs of the game while starter RHP Stevie Delabar retired the first nine batters he faced, striking out six of them.  However it was the Sussex Skyhawks who walked away with a third consecutive victory after scoring seven unanswered runs en route to a 7-2 win.

Brockton started the scoring in the first-inning thanks in part to leadoff hits from 2B Melvin Falu and SS Dominic Ramos. Falu scored when 1B Keith Brachold reached safely on a fielder’s choice.  Brachold drove in another run in the third inning on a groundout and the Rox held a 2-0 advantage.  However after the two hits to start the game, Brockton managed just one in the team’s next 26 plate appearances and watched its two-run lead transform into a five-run deficit.

Delabar was magnificent in his first three innings, facing the minimum in the first trip through the order and registering six strikeouts.  In the fourth inning, a costly two-out error led to three unearned runs as the Rox lead disappeared.  Sussex scored two more runs in the fifth inning with back-to-back triples by 2B Mark Pappas and CF Ron Perodin and a single by LF Ryan Crespi.

Meanwhile, Skyhawks starter RHP Justin Knoff cruised through the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings before giving way to the bullpen for three scoreless frames to end the game.

Rox reliever RHP John Tesseyman pitched three effective innings, allowing a single run on three hits with two strikeouts and LHP Brad Hertzler faced just three batters in the ninth inning.

The Sussex bullpen continued its dominance, providing three scoreless innings of relief from the combination of LHP Alex Smith and RHP Sandy Nin.

The Rox and Skyhawks conclude the four-game series on Sunday at 1:05 PM at Campanelli Stadium.  Sussex RHP TJ Stanton will face Rox RHP Jeff Long in his Brockton debut.