Rox Win as Evan Franz Steals the Show

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Evan Franz gets the Rox started as they win 8-3 in Pittsfield

Pittsfield, MA – The Brockton Rox continued their strong start to July with an 8-3 win over the Pittsfield Suns at Wahconah Park on Sunday.

It was a truly special moment in Pittsfield tonight as long-time Red Sox fan and brain cancer patient Evan Franz made his Rox debut. Before the game, the 18-year-old was given a one-day contract by team partner Norm Laviolette. The Brunswick, New York native ceremoniously led off the game for the Rox with a single to the right side.

Franz inspired the Rox to a quick start as Andy Martin (Dyersburg C.C.) and Peter Messervy (Harvard) got on base to start the inning. D’Angelo Ortiz drove both of them in with a single. The game stayed quiet for a bit with each team grabbing a run as the game headed to the sixth inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Suns tied it with a double, an intentional walk, a single, an error, and a sac-fly. It was only tied for a short bit, however, as the Rox put up a four-spot in the seventh inning with a big two-run-double by Ortiz along with a couple of runs coming in on errors. Martin finished 3-4 with a walk. Ortiz went 2-5 with four RBI.

Plymouth’s Nick DiRito (UMass Lowell) was great in his first start with the Rox as he pitched seven innings allowing three runs, two earned while striking out five. He was able to get out of some jams and keep the Suns quiet. Kevin Moszkowicz pitched the last two innings getting the final six outs in order

Brockton returns home for a July 4^th game against the New Britain Bees tomorrow at 1:30. Tickets are available for just $4 using the promo code 4FOR4 on our ticketing site.