Boulders Shut Out Bears, 8-0

Jon Velasquez tossed a complete-game gem for the Rockland Boulders in front of over 4,000 screaming fans to help them defeat the Newark Bears by a score of 8-0 in Can-Am League action on Thursday at Provident Bank Park in Pomona.

Velasquez was unhittable as he only allowed three base runners over his nine innings of work.  Newark recorded just four hits off of Velasquez, two of them by third baseman Paddy Matera.  

Velasquez struck out six batters Thursday night while only walking one en route to his fifth win of the season and the Boulders’ first ever shutout victory.

The Boulders quickly threatened to score in the bottom of the first. The first two batters walked, but they were followed by back-to-back fly outs.  Norm Hutchins then stroked a long fly ball to left field for an RBI double, scoring Ray Stokes for the first run of the game. Stokes scored again in the third on a Ryan Mollica ground out to increase the Rockland lead to two. 

In the next at bat, Jeremy Slayden slammed a long ball just inside the right field foul pole for a solo home run, leaving the Boulders with a 3-0 lead. That lead was increased to five runs after the Boulders rallied once again in the fourth.  

With two on and two out, Ryan Mollica doubled to deep left field to plate Ryde Rodriguez and Mike Richard and give the Boulders a 5-0 advantage. Rodriguez hit a bases-loaded double with nobody out to add two more runs to the Rockland lead in the fifth.  Chase Weems followed with an infield single to load the bases once again. 

With one out, Stokes was hit by a pitch to bring around another run, giving the Boulders an 8-0 lead after five full.

The Boulders (9-14, 28-41) welcome the New York Federals back to Provident Bank Park this evening to begin a three-game swing.  First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. Will Hassett (2-1) looks to bounce back from a shaky start back on August 7th.  He will take on New York’s Jim Schult (1-4).