Scott Clement and Todd Gossage belted back-to-back homers leading the to a 6-4 victory over the Worcester Tornadoes at Provident Bank Park in Pomona.
The win was the Boulders third in the last five games, the and the second earned by starter , who allowed one run on three hits over five innings.
Worcester took the early lead as Cameron Monger’s grounder to third was mishandled by Ryan Mollica, and Monger eventually came around to score on an Alex Trezza sac fly. The Boulders answered in the second off Zach Zuercher on back-to-back homers by Scott Clement and Todd Gossage.
singled, stole second, and scored on a Qualon Millender single. Millender took second on the late throw home and came around to score when Cole Kraft beat out an infield chopper, as the speedy centerfielder beat the return throw home.
Rockland extended its lead with another two-out rally when Millender legged out a triple into the gap and came home on Cole Kraft’s single. They tacked on another in the fifth when Ryan Scoma led off with a single and scored on Mollica’s double deep into the gap in left-center.
Worcester trimmed the deficit to 6-2 off reliever Andy Suiter in the sixth when Cameron Monger’s one-out double brought in Brendan Kelleher. Suiter then loaded the bases and walked Alex Trezza to bring the visitors to within 6-3 before Nicolas Blanco came on to escape further damage. The Tornadoes tacked on another in the seventh on a Monger sac fly, but Dan Jurik and Adrian Martin came on to close out the contest.
Sampson improved to 2-0 with the win while Zuercher was charged with the loss. Martin picked up the save, his second of the season. Jose Canseco, a marquee attraction for the Tornadoes, went 1-for-1 with three walks and a hit by pitch in five plate appearances.
The teams return for action today, May 26, for game two of the weekend set with a 7:05 pm start, followed by a Fireworks Extravaganza show. The homestand concludes Sunday with a 2:05 pm start, as all kids 14-and-under will be invited to run the bases following the game, sponsored by Sports Authority.
