08/04/2012 7:33 PM - (Ramapo, N.Y., August 4) - Damian Rolls called Bobby Blevins the Boulders' stopper, and that's just what Blevins was on Saturday night, with a little bit of help along the way.
The Rockland right-hander shut out the Kansas City T-Bones over the first 8.2 innings, but the Boulders needed Keith Brachold's bat and arm to seal the deal. Brachold threw out a runner at home plate to end the contest, preserving the shut out and the win, in a game that took just one hour and 51 minutes to complete.
Brachold's throw added to his heroics after he hit his league-leading 25th home run of the season in the seventh inning off T-Bones starter Brian Grening, a hit that stood up as the lone run of the game.
In the ninth inning, Blevins retired the first two batters, but allowed two singles in a row. Closer Adrian Martin came in to get the final out, but gave up a single to left field off the bat of Ray Sadler. Brachold came up throwing and fired a strike to the plate, where catcher Landis Wilson tagged the runner out to end the ball game.
Blevins (8-6) allowed only four singles all night and did not issue a walk. On the other side, Grening was also terrific, carrying a perfect game into the sixth inning, before Jose Reyes' single up the middle broke it up.
The victory snapped Rockland's three-game losing streak and gives them an opportunity to win the series over Kansas City on Sunday. Gustavo Chacin takes the hill for Rockland, looking to build on Saturday's thrilling finish.
First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tickets are still available but they're going fast - to catch all the fun and action, call 845-364-0009, visit the Provident Bank Park box office, or click "Tickets" here on Rocklandboulders.com.
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