AUGUSTA, NJ - Reigning Can-Am League Pitcher of the Week RHP Wayne Lundgren baffled the Sussex Skyhawks over the first seven innings of Wednesday night’s 8-4 win for the Rox. Lundgren extended a streak of scoreless innings to 16, before surrendering four runs in the eighth.
Through the first seven innings, Lundgren allowed only four base runners. Sussex got back-to-back singles with one out in the second inning, but failed to move a runner beyond second base. Lundgren allowed a leadoff walk in the fifth and a leadoff single in the seventh as the only other base runners through the first seven innings.
He came out for the eighth having thrown 92 pitches, and was unable to record an out in the inning. Sussex collected three hits and a walk, chasing the Rox starter with a two-run double by SS Mark Pappas.
However the offense had given Lundgren plenty of room with which to work. Facing Skyhawks’ starter RHP Kyle Ruwe, who had allowed one earned run in two previous starts against Brockton, the Rox tallied four runs in the third inning on five hits. C Chris Grossman started the scoring with an RBI single, one of two RBIs on the night for the catcher who also recorded his 18th double of the season later in the game. CF Chris Valencia, DH Clyde Williams, and LF Palmer Karr also drove in runs in the inning.
Brockton pushed its 4-0 lead to 7-0 in the sixth when Grossman’s double was followed by RBI singles from Valencia and Williams. In total the Rox pounded out 15 hits on the night. Valencia and RF Keith Brachold each had three hits for the Rox. Valencia, Williams, and Grossman each had two RBI.
RHP Matt Zachary relieved Lundgren with a runner at third base and nobody out in the eighth inning with the score 7-3. Zachary recorded the game’s final six outs, but not before the last run of the night was charged to Lundgren on an RBI groundout by DH Jorge Moreno. Moreno was the first batter Zachary faced.
The Rox now own a share of first place in the Can-Am League and have the opportunity to finish a five-game sweep over the Skyhawks on Thursday night. RHP Freddy Flores (3-3, 4.25 ERA) will start for Brockton opposite Skyhawks LHP Roger Lincoln (4-5, 5.17 ERA). Thursday night’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM.
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