Orleans and Y-D have begun to separate themselves atop the East division. The Firebirds own the best record in the league. Y-D is tied for the second-best mark.
They are not, however, getting a whole lot of separation from each other.
Y-D’s comeback 8-7 win Tuesday was the third one-run game in four meetings between the teams, with the other game decided by two runs.
This one was the most dramatic yet. Orleans scored four runs in the seventh to take control. But the deficit and impending darkness were no trouble for the Red Sox, who scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it.
Kyle Isbel (UNLV) led the Red Sox a homer, three RBI and three runs scored, including the game-winning run. Alfonso Rivas (Arizona) had the game-winning RBI. Amazingly, the rally came against Orleans closer Josh Hiatt (North Carolina), who had yet to allow a run this season.
Orleans had some more impressive numbers, with Stephen Scott (Vanderbilt) homering and notching his second six RBI game of the summer. Jimmy Herron (Duke) also homered and Ethan Paul (Vanderbilt) had three hits.
In the end, the Red Sox had the offense when it counted and moved to 3-1 in the season series with the Firebirds. Orleans still holds a three-point edge in the standings.
Chatham 10, Cotuit 5
The Anglers won their second straight game and handed Cotuit its first loss since July 1. The Kettleers led 2-0, but Chatham scored five runs in the second inning and pulled away from there. Josh Stowers (Louisville) went 2-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored and four RBI. Jacob Olson (South Carolina) had two doubles and Josh Shaw (St. John’s) drove in two runs. Adam Wolf (Louisville) earned the win in relief. For the Kettleers, Griffin Conine (Duke) hit his sixth home run and took over the league lead in RBI with 23.
Harwich 3, Bourne 1
A pair of LSU reinforcements provided the offense and Brian Christian (Northeastern) tossed seven shutout innings as Harwich snapped a five-game losing streak. Antoine Duplantis (LSU) went 3-for-4 with a home run and an RBI and Josh Smith (LSU) also knocked in a run. Christian allowed one hit and faced just one over the minimum in his seven innings. Logan Browning (Florida Southern) earned the save.
Wareham 2, Brewster 1
Brewster tied the game in the top of the seventh but Wareham untied it in the bottom half and held on for a 2-1 win. Steven Kwan (Oregon State) had a sacrifice fly to score Tanner Dodson (California) with the go-ahead run. Dodson’s run made a winner out of . . . Dodson, who pitched two innings of relief for the victory. Dalton Roach (Minnesota State Mankato) and Brett Conine (Cal State Fullerton) pitched the final two innings to close the win. Willie MacIver (Washington) led the Wareham offense with two hits and stole his league-best 11th base. Michael Curry (Georgia) had three hits for Brewster. Wareham starter Miller Hogan (St. Louis) went five scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
What to Watch
LSU freshman star Zack Hess, who took the College World Series by storm, will make his first start for Bourne as it hosts Wareham tonight. Hess struck out 83 in 60.2 innings in the spring.
When was the last time a catcher was leading the Cape League in stolen bases? What’s really strange is that MacIver stole less than three bases for Washington this season (the Washington website doesn’t include SB on its stat page but MacIver wasn’t in the team leaders in SB, which goes down to 3).
A quick look back says not since 2000!