Boulders Defeat Colonials, 7-5

Jon Velasquez continued his Provident Bank Park brilliance Tuesday night as he led the Boulders to a 7-5 win over the Pittsfield Colonials in Can-Am League baseball action.

Velasquez gave up three runs over eight innings, all of them unearned.  He struck out six Colonial batters, while giving up nine hits.  His eight innings extended his streak to 25 consecutive innings pitched at home without allowing an earned run, lowering his ERA at “The Bank” to 2.70.

Ray Stokes led off the game for the Boulders with a long ball into the left field grandstand, his third of the season, to give Rockland an early lead.  Ryan Mollica and Jeremy Slayden followed by both reaching base, then Barry Wesson singled in Mollica.  After Cristobal Santana’s ground out moved the runners to second and third, Cole Kraft’s ground out scored Slayden to leave the Boulders with a 3-0 lead after a full inning.

The Colonials worked their way back in the third by scoring three unearned runs.  With Quentin Davis at third, Santana made a rare error at first base to allow him to score.  Taking advantage of the error, Billy Mottram hit a rocket into the short porch in right field to tie the game at three apiece.

Rockland took the lead right back in the home half of the third with a two-out rally.  Santana and Kraft extended the inning with a pair of singles, and then Ryde Rodriguez doubled down the left field line to plate Santana and give the Boulders a 4-3 advantage.

The Boulders added to their lead in the fourth with another two-out rally.  With Stokes at third, Slayden doubled off the right-center wall to bring him home.  Wesson then dropped a single into centerfield, increasing the Rockland lead to three runs.

Mollica added some insurance in the eighth with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, giving the Boulders their seventh run.

Adrian Martin gave up two runs in the ninth in a non-save situation, but he was able to hold on and close out Velasquez’ sixth victory.

The Boulders (12-15, 31-42) will take on the Colonials in the third of four games this evening.  First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Will Hassett (3-1) takes the hill Wednesday evening for the Boulders.  He will take on Pittsfield’s Miguel Flores (3-8).