daily fog: breaking the mold

This time of year, most teams are sending a couple of pitchers to the mound every night, building people up, seeing who looks good, sorting out roles. In the first two days of the season — five games — 34 different pitchers took the hill.

Cotuit’s Nick Hernandez (Tennesee) had other ideas. Hernandez, a 6’4 lefty who also happens to be on a temporary contract, turned in the best pitching performance so far with seven strong innings on Saturday. He allowed seven hits but struck out eight and didn’t walk anybody. He allowed one run in leading Cotuit to a 4-1 victory over Brewster.

Hernandez is coming off a solid sophomore season with the Vols. His ERA was over 5, but he struck out 63 and walked only nine. Judging from last night, that ratio might get better this summer. That’s assuming Hernandez sticks around, which, also judging from last night, looks like a good possibility.

Elsewhere

• Two-time defending champ Yarmouth-Dennis lost its opener 5-2 to Orleans. The Red Sox had two hits apiece from four different players, including fourth-round draft pick Greg Miclat (Virginia). But Orleans matched Y-D’s total of 10 hits and came away with the victory. Nate Freiman (Duke) had two hits, while Tim Wheeler (Sacramento State) also had two, including a home run. The Cardinals haven’t been hurt too much by Team USA or the CWS and they fielded a lineup Saturday that will probably look a lot like their lineup in August. Not too many teams can say that.

• Hyannis beat Chatham 4-3 behind strong performances by four pitchers. Ryan Sharpley (Notre Dame) stood out with seven strikeouts in three innings of relief. Ben Paulsen(Clemson) had two hits and three RBI for the Mets. Chatham’s Aaron Miller (Baylor) had two hits and two RBI.

• Harwich scored the most runs of any team Saturday in a 9-4 victory over Bourne. Seven different players had hits for the Mariners, with Tim Smalling (Arkansas) delivering three to lead the way. Andrew Giobbi (Vanderbilt), who played for Falmouth last year, had two RBI for Harwich.

• Two recent draft picks were in Cape League lineups on opening day. Miclat, a fourth-rounder, led off for Y-D, while Cole Figueroa (Florida), a sixth-round pick, was batting leadoff for Orleans. Two other first-day picks, Hyannis’ Ryan Lavarnway (Yale) and Cotuit’s Jason Kipnis (Arizona State) are still on rosters, but haven’t yet shown up in box scores.

• This daily fog thing should be a daily feature, hence the name. Ideally, it will be up much, much earlier than it is today. I plan to have it up everyday by 11 a.m.

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