RHP Wayne Lundgren could not match his first start, throwing four innings and giving up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits. The Brockton bullpen held the Skyhawk lineup at bay for the remaining five innings, but the Rox offense just could not finish the late comeback, leaving seven runners on base.

After the Skyhawks (4-3) strung a couple of hits together to score a run in the first, the Rox (3-3) responded with a run in the top of the fourth on 3B Phillip Cuadrado‘s single, scoring 1B Melvin Falu. Unfortunately, that tie would be quickly erased as the Sussex bats heated up in the bottom of the inning, as Lundgren struggled to retire the side. The Skyhawks scored six runs in the inning on five hits, and that would be all Sussex would need.

DH Scott Wearne stayed hot, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs on the day, batting in two in the sixth and one in the eight. The Rox also scored another run in the top of the fifth on CF Chris Valencia‘s double, scoring SS Dominic Ramos. Those runs would not be enough to finish the sweep of the Skyhawks.

Sussex starter Jusef Frias got the win, going six innings, striking out eight and only allowing two earned runs. Lundgren was charged with the loss and Skyhawk closer Duaner Sanchez recorded his third save of the season. The Rox pen provided another stellar performance, as RHP Buster Lussier and LHP Dustin Birosak combined for a solid four innings pitched giving up no runs with four strikeouts.

The Rox will try to return to their winning ways tomorrow as they head to Little Falls, N.J. to take on the New Jersey Jackals, in the first game of a four-game set. RHP Mike Smith (1-0, 3.38) will take the mound for Brockton against Boston College alum RHP Nick Asselin in a 7:05 p.m. start at Yogi Berra Stadium.

The game was scoreless until the third when the Rox (3-2) put two on the board on a two-run double by C Chris Grossman. Sussex (3-3) broke onto the scoreboard in the fourth on an RBI groundout by 2B Chase Fontaine. Brockton assumed a 3-1 advantage in the seventh when 2B Melvin Falu scored from third base on an error by relief pitcher RHP Jared Yecker.

Brockton starter LHP Logan Williamson was solid in his first outing with the Rox, going 6.2 innings, allowing just one run on three hits with six strikeouts and one walk. He did not end up factoring into the decision.

The Rox held a 3-1 lead into the ninth inning, but RHP Josh Papelbon allowed Sussex to rally back with one out. Fontaine reached on an infield single and then CF Carl Loadenthal tripled to score him. DH Caleb Stewart singled in the next at-bat to tie the game at 3-3.

In the top of the 10th, Brockton reassumed the lead on a sacrifice fly by CF Chris Valencia. They added an insurance run on the hustle of SS Dominic Ramos, as he scored from second on an infield single by RF Keith Brachold.

Papelbon pitched the bottom of the inning and kept the Skyhawks at bay to give the Rox the 5-4 victory. Sussex added an unearned run against Papelbon, but with the tying run at third and the winning run at first, he forced a groundout to end it.

The loss was issued to Sussex reliever RHP Donald Jordat, who allowed two runs in the 10th on two hits and one walk. He drops to 0-2 on the season, while Papelbon picks up his first victory of the season to go along with a blown save.

The series finale is slated for Wednesday morning at 10:05 a.m. as the Rox look for the sweep. RHP Wayne Lundgren (0-0, 3.60) will take the mound against Sussex RHP Jusef Frias (0-0, 18.00). The Rox will then continue their nine-game road trip with the first of four games at New Jersey on Thursday evening.

The Rox (2-2) got on the board in the first inning when RF Keith Brachold tripled with one out and 1B Melvin Falu singled to bring him home. After Falu moved to second on a wild pitch, LF Mike Conroy doubled to score Falu, and then two batters later, C Chris Grossman hit a sacrifice fly to score the third run of the frame.

Brockton tacked on single runs in the third and fifth. Grossman connected on an RBI double in the third and 3B Phillip Cuadrado plated Brockton’s fifth run in the fifth with a single. Meanwhile, RHP Freddy Flores was cruising and finished the contest with a line of two runs on five hits over six innings of work, to pick up his first victory of the year.

The Rox added a four-spot in the sixth as CF Chris Valencia stroked a two-run triple. Conroy and 2B Derek Kinzler each added an RBI in the frame. Falu, Conroy, Cuadrado, SS Dominic Ramos and DH Scott Wearne all had multiple-hit games for Brockton. Conroy was the top performer, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Sussex (3-2) scored one run each in the fifth and sixth. The run in the fifth inning came home on a double-play ball, while 2B Chase Fontaine doubled home a man in the sixth. Skyhawks starter Tim Stringer pitched five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits as he was dealt the defeat.

DH Caleb Stewart was the only Skyhawk to have two hits as they only managed seven hits for the contest. LF Kraig Binick, Fontaine, 1B Kris Sanchez, RF Kade Keowen and C Jon Gossard accounted for the other five base knocks.

Brockton’s bullpen was strong as well, RHP Buster Lussier pitched two full innings, allowing only two hits. RHP Josh Papelbon made his Rox debut, pitching a perfect ninth in a non-save situation.

The three-game series between the Rox and Skyhawks continues on Tuesday evening at 7:05 p.m. LHP Logan Williamson (NR) will make his debut for Brockton and will be opposed by LHP Jeff Icenogle (1-0, 0.00). Icenogle was tabbed Can-Am League Pitcher of the Week for his five innings of shutout work on Thursday against New Jersey.

Icenogle is set to make his second start of 2010 on Tuesday at home against the Brockton Rox. RHP Tim Stringer is set to start for Sussex on Monday, and RHP Jusef Frias will be the starter on Wednesday.

We’re constantly adding new events and promotions to our schedule, so visit our website at www.sussexskyhawks.com for updates. For more information about promotions listed above or to reserve tickets, contact the Skyhawks’ office at 973-300-1000.

Sussex RHP Daniel Berlind went four innings, allowing two runs. RHP Justin Dignelli came in for the fifth and surrendered two runs to make it 4-1, one on a homerun by New Jersey DH Shawn Riggans. New Jersey’s starter, LHP Ryan Lobban, allowed just one run through five innings but was charged with two more in the sixth during an extra third of an inning of work. Nonetheless, he was still in line for the win after six.

In the seventh inning, however, Loadenthal homered off of RHP Mike Pontius to tie the game at four. It was an interesting day for him already at that point, having made an error in the top of the first on a fly ball to go along with his triple and solo shot. But in the ninth he cemented himself as the game’s hero, singling into the left-centerfield gap off of New Jersey RHP Edward Rodriguez to drive in the game-winning run.

Sunday was the first walk-off win of the season for the Skyhawks. They continue their seven-game homestand on Monday at CenturyLink Field at Skylands Park when the Brockton Rox visit Sussex County for the start of a three-game set. Veterans and active duty military receive free tickets to the game on Monday afternoon, which is scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m. RHP Freddy Flores of Brockton and RHP Tim Stringer of Sussex are the probable starters.

We’re constantly adding new events and promotions to our schedule, so visit our website at www.sussexskyhawks.com for updates. For more information about promotions listed above or to reserve tickets, contact the Skyhawks’ office at 973-300-1000.

RHP Mike McGuire started the game for the home team on his 24th birthday. He got off to a rocky start, surrendering a three-run homerun to DH Shawn Riggans of New Jersey in the first. Riggans, the Can-Am leader in RBI at game’s end with six, had another strong game at the plate, going 3 for 4 with those 3 RBI.

From there on, however, Sussex took over. McGuire settled down, and SS Joe Persichina hit a two-run homer in the second to draw the Skyhawks within one. By the bottom of the sixth, the home team was up 5-3. CF Carl Loadenthal poked a double down the left field line with the bases loaded in that half-inning for his first hit of the season, driving in two, and 1B Kris Sanchez followed up with a two-RBI single to make it 9-3 Sussex. The Jackals came back to score two runs off of RHP Kevin Gunter in the seventh and then had RHP Jared Yecker on the ropes in the ninth with the bases loaded and one out, but RHP Duaner Sanchez came in and retired the next two batters on four pitches to earn his second save of the series. Mike McGuire took home the win, and RHP Nick Asselin of New Jersey was tagged with the loss.

Sunday afternoon, the Skyhawks will look to earn their first series win of the season. New Jersey LHP Ryan Lobban and Sussex RHP Daniel Berlind are the probable starters. Senior citizens will receive a $2 discount off each ticket and can eat for free by presenting a coupon from the New Jersey Herald.

We’re constantly adding new events and promotions to our schedule, so visit our website at www.sussexskyhawks.com for updates. For more information about promotions listed above or to reserve tickets, contact the Skyhawks’ office at 973-300-1000.

We are inviting Girl Scout troops from around the area to come enjoy some baseball as we host Girl Scout Day. All Troops that request group tickets, in advance, will receive a scout patch with the Skyhawks logo, and will have stadium wide recognition at some point during the day. Troops from all over the area are encouraged to attend the game, and be recognized with the other troops.  To book your group tickets, please call the Skyhawks at (973) 300-1000 and ask for the Group Sales department.

In addition, there will also be a Car Show at Skylands Park.  Outside of the stadium, there will be many automobiles for the family to check out from 12–5pm. These cars will all parade around CenturyLink Field at 1:30.  Registration of a vehicle for the show and parade is $15 each, and public entry to the show is just $1. All types of trucks, cars, and bikes are welcome, and awards will be given out in each category at 4:30pm.  The show is the 3^rd annual effort to benefit the CLAWS Animal Shelter. CLAWS is a no-kill, non-profit cat rescue and adoption shelter located in Augusta, NJ and was founded in 2002.

Automobiles for display can register for the show at www.clawscatshelter.com. Roll-ins are welcome, but you will not be guaranteed a spot if you show up to the show without pre-registering.  Vendors can also register at the same site for this event.

As if you needed any more incentive to come check out the game on June 12^th, there is also a special giveaway planned.  The first 500 fans to come to Skylands Park will receive a Skyhawks logo baseball for FREE!

We’re constantly adding new events and promotions to our schedule, so visit our website www.sussexskyhawks.com for updates.  For more information about promotions listed above or to reserve tickets, contact the Skyhawks office at 973-300-1000.

Attendance on Opening Night was 1,370 as fans braved the rain to come out and see an exciting win at CenturyLink Field at Skylands Park. Tomorrow night, the first fireworks night of the year, should be equally entertaining. New Jersey RHP Dan Griffin and Sussex RHP Jusef Frias are the probable starters.

We’re constantly adding new events and promotions to our schedule, so visit our website at www.sussexskyhawks.com for updates. For more information about promotions listed above or to reserve tickets, contact the Skyhawks’ office at 973-300-1000.

The Skyhawks also made several roster moves today. LHP Matt Gianini, RHP Andy Schon, RHP Zach Smithlin, and INF Todd Gossage were released. INF Jansy Infante, who has spent four seasons with minor league affiliates of the Cleveland Indians as well as one year in the Atlantic League with the Camden Riversharks and Newark Bears, was signed to fill Gossage’s roster spot.

We’re constantly adding new events and promotions to our schedule, so visit our website at www.sussexskyhawks.com for updates. For more information about promotions listed above or to reserve tickets, contact the Skyhawks’ office at 973-300-1000.