Maybe they were inspired by the All-Star Game.
A night after pitching dominated the Cape’s Mid-Summer Classic, the league jumped right back into regular-season action and pitchers dominated that, too. Falmouth’s Sean Hagan (St. John’s) had a no-hitter broken up in the ninth inning and settled for a complete game, one-hit shutout. Bourne’s Jeff Thompson (Louisville) pitched a six-inning no-hitter in a game that was called early due to rain. And three Cotuit pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout and a 1-0 victory over Y-D.
Together, those performances made for probably the best pitching night of the offense-filled summer.
Start with Hagan. The 6-foot-6 lefty, a 29th-round pick this year, wasn’t an All-Star but he’s had his moments this summer. In his last start, he allowed two runs in nine innings as part of an 11-inning game.
This time, the nine innings were even better. Hagan struck out nine, walked one and just mowed down the league’ third-best hitting team. He retired the first 21 batters he faced and took a perfect game into the eighth, when he hit a batter.
As he headed to the ninth, he was one out away from the league’s first nine-inning no-hitter since Jordan Pries did it in 2010. After a strikeout for out number one, Erik Forgione (Memphis) broke up the no-no with a double. Hagan then walked the next batter but finished off the shutout with a groundout and a strikeout.
Falmouth, which had 16 hits, ended up with the 6-0 win.
No-no Rain
Thompson was the top prospect in the NECBL last summer but has had his struggles on the Cape. He came into last night’s game with a 5.87 ERA. Facing Harwich, he didn’t look like a no-hitter candidate.
But there he was.
Thompson struck out nine and walked two in six innings. When the game was called, his six no-hit innings turned into a no-hitter. It’s a bit of a shame that he didn’t get the chance to go the full way. He was at 80 pitches through six so you’ve got to figure he had a few more left in him.
Maybe Harwich would have got to him later, but maybe not. Regardless, it was a great performance by Thompson.
It’s the first time Harwich has been shut-out all season.
Three’s Company
In the best pitchers’ duel of the night, Cotuit slipped past Y-D 1-0 for its eighth straight win.
The Kettleers were facing Andrew Thurman (UC Irvine), who was coming off a dominant complete game shutout in his last start. But the Kettleers matched him. Joe Broussard (LSU) started and allowed four hits in six innings, while striking out four. Cameron Griffin (Stetson) and Ryan Connolly (Coastal Carolina) finished off the victory with a scoreless frame.
Cotuit got its lone run in the seventh when Patrick Biondi (Michigan) singled and eventually came around on a wild pitch.
The Kettleers now have the best record in the league.
Elsewhere
What to Watch
Cotuit will try to stay hot as it hosts Chatham at 5 p.m.