I was thinking about making a trip to a Cape League game last night but decided not to. When I heard on the radio that there was a seven-mile backup at the Bourne Bridge, I figured I’d made the right call.
Although, even if I had gotten caught in the backup, I probably still would seen some baseball in Falmouth.
Falmouth and Harwich went 12 innings in a pretty incredible pitchers’ duel last night before the Commodores came away with a 1-0 victory.
The game actually wasn’t all that long — just under three hours — considering they went 12 innings. That happens when nobody allows a run until the end. Matt Skole (Georgia Tech) scored the winning run on a wild pitch.
It must have felt like an anti-climactic ending, but considering the pitching, it probably wasn’t going to happen any other way. Four Falmouth pitchers allowed a total of five hits and struck out 15. Three Mariners allowed six hits and struck out 18.
The brightest stars were the starters.
Miguel Pena (San Jacinto CC) is a pretty recent addition to the Falmouth roster. The lefty was a fifth-round pick out of high school and he was taken in the 13th round after this his first year at San Jacinto. He allowed three runs in 4.2 innings his first time out, but he was lights out this time. Pena struck out 11 and didn’t walk anybody in six innings of work. He allowed three hits.
On the other side, Pierce Johnson (Missouri State), who had delivered two solid starts in previous outings, delivered an outstanding start this time. He struck out 10 and also didn’t walk anybody in seven innings. He surrendered four hits.
The way the other guy was pitching, neither starter had a chance at a decision. The trend continued when the game went to the bullpens. Mike Wright (East Carolina) had the best outing of any reliever, striking out seven and allowing just one hit in 3.2 innings.
In the end, the Falmouth offense found a way. Skole worked a leadoff walk off Daniel Burawa (St. John’s) in the 12th. A single by Chris O’Brien (Wichita State) moved Skole to third and he scampered home on Burawa’s wild pitch.
The victory got Falmouth over .500 at 9-8. Harwich dropped to 6-11.
Elsewhere
What to Watch
Looks like a really good pitching match-up in Falmouth tonight. The Commodores will send Mark Pope (Georgia Tech) to the hill against Bourne’s Anthony Meo (Coastal Carolina). Pope has a 0.95 ERA and 21 strikeouts. Meo, the Big South Pitcher of the Year, allowed just an unearned run in his first start of the summer. Also, there should be a good match-up in Wareham, where Y-D’s Brett Mooneyham (Stanford) goes against Jack Armstrong (Vanderbilt). Both are power arms with first-round potential next year.