Rox pound out 18 hits, hammer ‘Jacks

ORONO – Brockton pounded out 18 hits and took advantage of six Bangor errors as the Rox beat the Lumberjacks 15-7 Tuesday night at Mahaney Diamond.

The two teams will meet up again Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. to close out the series. The ‘Jacks are off Thursday.

Six of the Rox’ 15 runs Tuesday were unearned as a result of Bangor miscues. Donnie Ross, the third baseman, recorded two errors.

Brockton took command early as Craig Lewis hit a two-run double in the first. Nestor Smith and Bobby Brown had hit back-to-back singles off Bangor starter Danny Miller.

The Lumberjacks bit into the lead a bit with three runs in the third when Ross hit a three-run homer, but the Rox added another run in the fourth and four more in the sixth for a 9-3 lead.

Melvin Rosario and Michael Davis each recorded an RBI single in the sixth.

The Lumberjacks tried for a late rally, scoring two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. But Brockton piled on four more runs in the top of the ninth, keyed by a Junior Medina RBI groundout and a run-scoring single by Smith. Earlier in the inning Lewis scored on a wild pitch by reliever Santiago Henry, and Landry, who had reached on a walk, eventually came home.

Brockton reliever Conor Brooks closed out the game, giving up a leadoff single to Brad Hargreaves but inducing a foulout to third and two flyouts to the outfield to end the game.

Smith led the way for the Rox with a 3-for-7 effort at the plate and three RBIs. Brown was also 3-for-7, and drove in a run.

Brockton starter Rodney Allen (3-3) picked up the win, giving up eight hits and five runs, all earned, while striking out eight and walking two in 6 1/3 innings of work.

Miller falls to 3-9. He allowed 10 hits and eight runs (six earned) in 5 1/3 innings, and also walked five and struck out two.

Bangor’s Mark Burke singled and hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. Schuyler Doakes went 3-for-5 for the Lumberjacks with three singles. Doakes also recorded two stolen bases.

Ross finished with four RBIs. Lorenzo de la Cruz was 2-for-3 with a double and a single.

Brockton stranded 16 while Bangor left seven.

The Lumberjacks’ top pitcher, Kevin Pincavitch (6-3), will likely go against Chad Ward (1-4) tonight.