It took until Aug. 2 – the second-to-last day of the regular season – for the Bourne Braves to score double-digit runs in a game. They did it again the next day.
And Saturday night, they did it when they needed it the most.
Bourne rallied from 4-0 and 7-3 deficits and stayed alive in the Cape League championship series with a 13-7 win over Brewster in game two. The win sets up a decisive game three this afternoon in Brewster.
Offensive production was not Bourne’s strong suit for most of the year. The team batting average was near the bottom of the league and there weren’t many extra-base hits to make up for it. But since those late-season blowouts, offense hasn’t really been a problem for the Braves, who own the second-best batting average in playoff action and the second-best slugging percentage. Some of the hottest hitters in the postseason are in their lineup.
Those deficits, then, didn’t mean much, especially against a taxed pitching staff.
The first rally came in the third inning when Jared Triolo (Houston) doubled in a run and Jameson Hannah (Dallas Baptist) hit a two-run homer.
After Brewster restored its four-run lead, the Braves put together a stunning eight-run fifth inning. Hannah and Tyler Fiztgerald (Louisville) had RBI singles and Andy Atwood (Oregon State) drove in two with a base hit. Grant Williams (Kennesaw State) had an RBI double, Lyle Lin (Arizona State) plated a run on a fielder’s choice, then Triolo and Hannah were at it again with RBI singles.
In all, Bourne sent 13 men to the plate and logged eight hits. Brewster didn’t help much, walking two and making no errors. The Braves simply mashed the ball.
Bourne added insurance runs in the sixth and the bullpen made the lead stand up. P.J. Poulin (UConn), Chad Luensmann (Nebraska) and Nick Johnson (Rhode Island) teamed up for four shutout innings of relief.
Now it all comes down to Sunday. It will be the 53rd game of the year for Brewster, which has gone to three games in each of its three playoff series.