At a time of year when Cape League teams are looking for reinforcements, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox found one in their own bullpen Saturday.
Making his first start of the summer after six relief appearances, Andrew Quezada (Cal State Fullerton) tossed six shutout innings to lead Y-D over Brewster 4-2.
Quezada pitched this spring at Cypress College – where Y-D manager Scott Pickler is the “Head Coach Emeritus” – and is committed to play for Cal State Fullerton next season. He was dominant for Cypress, with a 1.17 ERA in a team-high 108 innings pitched. He started 14 games, so it was the bullpen role with Y-D that was actually unfamiliar. He acquitted himself well, though, posting a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings out of the bullpen since making his debut July 4.
Saturday, the Red Sox were coming off a loss to Chatham, but Quezada gave them exactly what they needed. The four hits he allowed were all singles and he struck out six while walking just one.
Nico Hoerner (Stanford) and Alfonso Rivas (Arizona) backed him with an RBI each, and Darren Trainor (Lewis-Clark State) also knocked in a run. Brewster scored two runs in the ninth and had the tying run at the plate, but Brendan Nail (Western Carolina) closed the door.
Y-D improved to 25-13-1 and kept pace with first-place Orleans, staying three points back.
Cotuit 2, Falmouth 1
The West standings tightened right back up as Cotuit edged Falmouth. The Commodores now lead the division with 41 points, Bourne has 40 and Cotuit has 39. The Kettleers rallied from an early 1-0 hole to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth and held Falmouth down the rest of the way. Gian Martellini (Boston College) provided both runs with a two-run homer, his third of the summer. Chase Cohen (Georgia Southern) allowed one run in four innings, Clark Cota (UNC Wilmington) pitched two scoreless frames for the win, Michael Byrne (Florida) tossed two scoreless and Christian Demby (NC State) pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Orleans 7, Wareham 4
The Firebirds had only one extra-base hit but piled up 13 singles to top Wareham. Jimmy Herron (Duke) had two hits and three RBI while Niko Decolati (Loyola Marymount) had three hits. Brandon Shearer (Loyola Marymount) and Brandon Riley (North Carolina) each had two hits and scored two runs. Five pitchers kept Wareham mostly in check, with Taylor Sugg (North Carolina) picking up the win in relief. Wareham lost its seventh straight game.
Hyannis 5, Bourne 0
The Harbor Hawks shut out Bourne and are suddenly just two points behind Wareham for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West. Jordan Martinson (Dallas Baptist), who came in with a 7.88 ERA, came up with a huge performance, striking out seven and allowing just three hits in five scoreless innings. Nick Sandlin (Southern Mississippi) and Christian Tripp (New Mexico) kept the shutout intact. Tyler Frank (Florida International), Dominic DiCaprio (Rice) and Cesar Trejo (UNC Greensboro) each had an RBI to lead the offense.
Harwich 4, Chatham 3
The Mariners edged the Anglers in 10 innings and have now won two in a row since being eliminated from playoff contention Thursday. Ryne Ogren (Elon) walked in the 10th and pinch-runner Jake McCarthy (Virginia) – who ranked 10th in the nation in stolen bases this spring – went to work. He stole second. Then he stole third, and the throw to get him there sailed into left field, allowing the go-ahead run to score. Chatham put two runners on in the bottom of the 10th, but Austin Hansen (Oklahoma) worked out of trouble to seal the win. Antoine Duplantis (LSU) had three hits and Cobie Vance (Alabama) drove in two runs to lead the Mariners. John Witkowski (Boston College) pitched five scoreless innings of relief. Chatham honored retiring manager John Schiffner in a ceremony before the game.
What to Watch
Sunday has a full slate of rematches from Saturday. When Cotuit visits Falmouth, the Kettleers will have a chance to make the West race even tighter.