A tough seventh-inning stung the North Shore Navigators as they fell to the Brockton Rox, 6-1, on Wednesday night at Fraser Field. Brockton improves to 6-2 on the year while the Navs fall to a 1-9 record.
North Shore pitcher Austen Michel (Dartmouth) went six strong innings in his first start after moving from the bullpen. He struck out eight on the night and ended with a no-decision.
Brockton took the lead in the start of the fourth, as Daniel Jung and Nick Garland had back-to-back hits. They were advanced into scoring position by a wild pitch. Jung came around to score on a ground ball to the shortstop.
The Navigators answered quickly with a run in the sixth, as Joey Pena (St. Thomas Aquinas) walked with one out. Nick Falkson singled but the Navigators lost a base runner when Pena was called out on a fielder’s choice. Alex Brickman (Siena) came through with an infield single to score Dane Berezo (VCU).
Cam Lanzilli (Eckard) came in the seventh to relieve Michel and gave up back-to-back triples to Silva and Tommy O’Hara. Lanzilli was pulled in favor of Brendan Powicki (Stonehill), who had no better luck against the Brockton bats.
O’Hara came in to score from third on a wild pitch during Kyle Ruth’s at-bat. Ruth would earn a walk and stole second. Sam Cochrane singled to score Ruth, putting the third run across the plate for the inning. Cochrane continued around the base paths, advancing to third on an error by Powicki and came around to score on a passed ball.
Alex Brickman (St. Petersburg) came in and struck out his first batter. Chris Berry singled and advanced to third on an error by the left fielder. Jung walked and pushed Kyle Simon to second, scoring Berry. A putout and a swinging strike ended the inning.
Brickman came in strong with three straight outs in the top of the eighth but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide for the Navigators. Matt Kerin came back for the Rox and struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to prevent any more North Shore scoring.
The Navigators head to Bristol on Thursday afternoon before hosting the first fireworks night of 2017 on Friday as they host Worcester.