THE GOING GETS TOUGHER AS RED SOX DROP ANOTHER TO BREWSTER 4-0
The YD Red Sox (12-15-3) had their chances on Friday evening in Brewster but could not capitalize on frequent base runners as they fell further behind the Brewster Whitecaps (17-10-3) in the Eastern Division after yesterday’s 4-0 loss. The Red Sox put a runner on base in all but two innings but struggled to find the clutch hitting that won them two games earlier in the week.
Coming off a difficult loss to the Wareham Gatemen, YD failed to produce the hits with runners in scoring position and in turn put a zero in their run column even though the opportunities were present. The Red Sox left nine runners on base during the game; five of those runners were squandered in the second and sixth innings.
The second inning offered the Red Sox their best opening of the game when the bases were loaded with one out. Jacob Lamb walked, followed by a Tyler Hanover single, and a walk by center fielder Connor Harrell to bring catcher Bennett Pickar to the plate. Coach Pickler elected to start Pickar over SEC Player of the Year Mike Zunino likely due to the relationship Pickar and starting pitcher Alex Gonzalez formed as battery mates at Oral Roberts.
However, with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the second inning, Pickar grounded into an agonizing 6-4-3 double play to end the frame.
The sixth inning looked promising for the Red Sox as well when a couple hits scattered during the inning by Brian Johnson and Jacob Lamb placed runners on first and third with two outs. Nonetheless, Brewster starting pitcher Luke Bard got the Red Sox hitters to come up with nothing but air on their swings as he retired the side with three strike outs in the inning.
The pitching wasn’t terrible for YD either. Starter Alex Gonzalez, who entered the game sporting an impressive 2.05 ERA in 22 innings this season, looked shaky on the mound from the very start, yet he only allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits with three walks and a couple strike outs in 4+ innings.
Joey Denato pitched a solid three innings of relief allowing only one run and James Lomangino hurled a scoreless eighth to give the Red Sox hitters a dying chance in the ninth.
All in all, the Whitecaps were superior in all aspects of the game and the Red Sox did not look sharp. Despite turning three double plays in the first four innings and a couple good defensive plays in the outfield, the Red Sox defense committed four errors that led to Whitecaps runs being scored.
Brewster scored two runs in the first thanks to a screaming line drive triple to right field by Jason Monda and a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Devon Rodriguez. A couple errors put runners on in the bottom of the fifth and an Andrew Toles single drove in the third Whitecaps run. Finally, Brewster tagged on another in the seventh inning when a second Toles single drove in a runner from second.
The Red Sox should have gotten at least one run on the board in the top of the seventh inning when pinch hitter Zunino was hit by a pitch to reach first base. After the second out of the inning, shortstop Chris Taylor launched a deep fly ball over the left fielder’s head. As Zunino charged for home, Taylor strained to stretch his double into a triple but was thrown out at third. The home plate umpire decided the run didn’t score because Taylor was the third out before Zunino had crossed the plate.
Pickler argued the call with the umpire but to no avail. The run should have scored, though it would not have been enough to change the result of the game.
The Red Sox play Chatham on Saturday at 7:00 PM and seek to continue their recent success against the Anglers.
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