COSTLY ERRORS AND EMPTY BATS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE RED SOX
The YD Red Sox (18-20-4) committed two errors in the first two innings that allowed all the Hyannis runs to score and could never string together more than one hit in any inning as they dropped their third straight game to the Hyannis Harbor Hawks 3-1. The Harbor Hawks (28-13) have already clinched the Western Division title but showed no signs of resting players as the pitching shut down the luke-warm Sox bats all night.
The Red Sox pitching was not bad either as only one of the three runs allowed by starter Daniel Gibson were earned and the relief pitching was solid, not allowing any runs during a scoreless five innings to keep YD in the game. Red Sox fans kept waiting for a break out inning all game, yet the team was not able to bring more than four batters to the plate in any inning, scoring their only run in the top of the second inning.
Surprisingly, the Red Sox had a base runner every inning except for the ninth when they finally figured out they had to score or suffer another loss. The team managed a single hit in the first four innings, a couple walks in each of the fifth and sixth innings, and a single hit in each of the seventh and eighth innings. The only time any of the minimal action was able to produce a run was the top of the second when a walk by Stephen Piscotty, who moved to second on a pass ball, initiated a Matt Reynolds single to the left center gap. Piscotty scored on the hit but Reynolds was tossed out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double.
That run tied the score at one after the Harbor Hawks began the scoring in the bottom half of the first inning. A single by center fielder Joey Rickard, who stole second and advanced to third on a pass ball, was followed by a walk to designated hitter Kevin Plawecki. With two outs and the hope of escaping the jam, Daniel Gibson delivered a pitch to Chadd Krist who blooped a single over the shortstop Chris Taylor’s head. Taylor retreated back but the ball bounced off his glove and landed in the shallow outfield. An error was charged to Taylor although left fielder Cody Keefer should have called him off on the play and retired Krist to end the inning without any damage done. Instead the first Hyannis run scored.
A 1-1 score shortly stood until the bottom of the second inning when Hyannis scored their final two runs of the game. A leadoff bunt single by first baseman John Frost and a single to right field by second baseman Zach Vincei placed two runners on with no outs. Frost and Vincei advanced to second and third on a wild pitch and a one out Eric Stamets walk loaded the bases. A fielder’s choice ground out put out Stamets at second but allowed the second Hyannis run to score, 2-1. Yet another ground ball by the next hitter, Plawecki, scooted to shortstop Chris Taylor who misplayed the ball, which let a third run score, 3-1. After his second error in consecutive innings, it is a span Taylor wished to forget.
Gibson threw only three innings and took the loss despite allowing only four hits on three runs, one earned. The relief pitching held the Red Sox in the game as Matt Carasiti, Joey Denato, and Kyle Hansen combined for five innings of two-hit scoreless relief.
This was a very winnable game for the Red Sox, but the bats could never get started against tough Hyannis pitching in a game that last only two and a half hours.
The Red Sox get an off day on Monday and continue with two games against Harwich on Tuesday and Wednesday to round up the end of the regular season. Tuesday’s game is at home at Red Wilson Field. First pitch is at 4:30 PM.
--Ben Stepansky
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