YD BEATS RAIN AND ANGLERS IN SHORTENED GAME
With a storm quickly approaching and the YD Red Sox (12-13-3) trailing the Chatham Anglers (7-19-1) with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Red Sox were able to post a come back and earn the win in the rain-shortened game. A costly error by Angler third baseman Kris Bryant allowed the tying and winning runs to score in the fifth inning as the Red Sox skipped their way to a two game winning streak.
According to NCAA and CCBL rules, a game is not deemed official until the fifth inning is complete (or four and a half innings if the home team is winning). The case on Wednesday evening, however, as dark clouds moved in and drastically dropped the temperature on the field, saw the Red Sox trailing the Anglers 2-1 entering the bottom of the fifth.
Before the fifth inning began YD found themselves ahead 1-0. The Red Sox scored their first run in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a leadoff double by James Ramsey who would proceed to steal third base and score on a Stephen Piscotty ground out.
Behind 1-0 going into the fourth inning, Chatham scored two runs to take the lead with the hope that they could hold off the Red Sox until the rain reached Yarmouth. A leadoff single by first baseman Richie Shaffer and an error at second by Tyler Hanover on a ground ball placed runners at second and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly moved both runners up a base and tied the score at one. After Beau Amaral was hit by a pitch and stole second to put runners at second and third for the second time this inning, Darrell Matthews singled to shallow left to bring home the go-ahead run, but left fielder Mason Katz threw out Amaral attempting to score from second base.
The Red Sox took all the help that the Anglers would give them in the bottom of the fifth to scrape together enough runs to take the lead. After the first two outs of the inning were recorded, Chris Taylor walked and Piscotty singled to right field and advanced to second on the throw from the right fielder trying to catch Taylor who was safe at third. The next batter Matt Reynolds grounded to third on the first pitch he saw which looked like the final out of the inning, but an errant throw from Angler Kris Bryant that bounced far in front of the first baseman allowed both runners to score and YD regained the lead 3-2.
The teams would get through the top half of the sixth inning before the rain began to fall and halted the Red Sox half of the inning with a runner on first.
Red Sox starting pitcher Brian Johnson and relief man Daniel Gibson combined to strike out eleven Angler hitters, who lead the league in strike outs, which was nearly two-third of the outs recorded. Johnson threw four innings and struck out seven to pick up the win while Gibson threw two innings and struck out four.
It was an unfortunate night for Angler starter Tim Cooney who pitched well through 4 2/3 innings giving up all three runs although only one was earned.
With this win the Red Sox move back into a tie for third place in the Eastern Division with the Orleans Firebirds and continue to secure a playoff spot by building a larger gap between themselves and the last place Anglers.
The Red Sox carry on away against the Wareham Gatemen on Thursday.
