RELENTLESS MARINERS BATS SWING PAST RED SOX
The story of the season continued for the YD Red Sox (10-11-2) on Wednesday as late inning runs allowed the Harwich Mariners (14-8) to solidify their win, defeating the Red Sox 9-5 on a breezy evening at Red Mills field. Harwich held on to a 6-5 lead after six full innings and added on three more runs in the eighth and ninth inning to secure their current reign atop the Eastern Division.
Andrew Thurman started on the mound for YD entering the game with a 2-0 record and an ERA sitting just under 5.00. Thurman pitched well, throwing 4 2/3 innings while allowing four runs on five hits and setting down three batters via the strikeout. He was opposed by Harwich hurler Andrew Leenhouts who recorded the same number of hits and strikeouts yet allowed only two runs in his four full innings of work.
The decisive key that gave Harwich the win was their superior relief pitching in this particular game. After Thurman’s departure from the game, Red Sox relief pitching surrendered seven hits and five runs in the sixth through ninth innings. That line was countered by the Mariners relief pitching allowing three runs in the fifth through ninth innings. Harwich pitcher Carter Capps was a star for his team, pitching 2 2/3 innings of relief work while giving up only two hits and no runs.
Harwich began the scoring in the top of the fourth inning when designated hitter Andrew Rash launched his first home run of the year over the center field fence. Rash took absolute advantage of his extra life as on the previous pitch he had hit a pop up behind the plate that new catcher Mike Zunino misplayed.
YD erased the early Mariners lead in the bottom half of the fourth when third baseman Tyler Hanover started off the inning by getting hit by the pitch and then stealing second. After a sacrifice fly moved him over to third, Hanover scored on a wild pitch. Connor Harrell followed with a rare triple to left center field and was driven in by Chris Taylor, who hit a bloop double to center, one of his three hits on the day giving YD their only lead of the game, 2-1.
Harwich came right back in the top of the fifth placing runners on second and third with no outs following a hit by pitch and a double. Thurman nearly got out of this jam, however, when he forced the next batter to hit a ground ball to first baseman Mason Katz who threw home to catch the runner breaking from third. Next, Thurman retired the leadoff man Ronnie Richardson on a pop out. Nonetheless, the next batter laid down a beautiful bunt single to let the tying run score. After a walk loaded the bases, clean up man Jake Davies singled to score two more Harwich runs as his team regained the lead 4-2.
YD got a run back in the bottom of the fifth on a two out single by Hanover that scored Zunino from second closing their deficit down to one run. Harwich got that run back and another in the top of the sixth when its hitters accumulated three hits, a double and two singles that brought their lead to 6-3.
Continuing the scoring in the middle innings, the Red Sox got two men to cross home plate in the bottom of the sixth inning. With runners on first and second with no outs, designated hitter Stephen Piscotty doubled to the right center gap, one of his three hits, to collect two RBIs and reduce the Mariners lead to 6-5.
Piscotty has also shown off his arm in the past two games, coming in to pitch one inning of relief in each game. Of the two innings he has pitched Piscotty has allowed no runs, one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts while having his fastball clocked in the mid-90s.
His relief pitching was not enough to gain the win for YD as Harwich scored two additional runs in the eighth on a two-run home run by Jabari Henry, his third of the year, and scored another in the ninth to take the game 9-5.
YD has the day off on Thursday and continues on Friday against the Brewster Whitecaps at home. The Whitecaps and the Red Sox, along with the Orleans Firebirds, are bunched in the middle of the Eastern division. As the season rides into its second half, YD will look to win these crucial games against division rivals.
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