RED SOX STRUGGLES CONTINUE IN CHATHAM WITH 4-2 LOSS
There always seems to be a rival that your team just can’t figure out. Well that is the story for the YD Red Sox (12-16-3) against their Eastern Division foes the Chatham Anglers (9-20-1). Dropping yesterday’s game 4-2, the Red Sox tagged their fourth loss against the Anglers this season (1-4) and still could not manage to win a game at Veteran’s Field (0-3).
Whenever YD fans find their spirits up after the hometown Red Sox tie together a couple of wins, they find their hopes soon depleted after those two wins precede a three game losing streak. A convincing win against Orleans 15-8 and a scrappy 3-2 win over Chatham last week saw the Red Sox on the right track. But losses to Wareham, Brewster, and now Chatham have dropped YD to just eight points in front of the bottom feeding Anglers in the Eastern Division.
Yesterday’s game featured 25 total strikeouts by both teams, which is nearly half (46%) of the total outs in the game (54). YD’s 12 strikeouts bested Chatham’s 13 but the Red Sox bats failed them yet again as their only hit through the first eight innings was a Matt Reynolds single in the top of the third.
A.J. Vanegas started on the hill for YD with a healthy 2.81 ERA in 16 innings this season. Vanegas got himself in trouble in the first but otherwise settled down in his four innings of work.
A leadoff single, walk, and RBI double by Chatham designated hitter Dane Phillips brought home the first Angler run and the early lead. A sacrifice fly scored the second run of the inning and a two out ground rule double by Beau Amaral gave Chatham a 3-0 lead after one inning.
The Red Sox frequently dig themselves into an early hole and must play catch up the entire game. Runs in the first inning have tortured YD in the last two games (three for Chatham and two for Brewster the previous day).
After Vanegas pitched through the next three innings unscathed and Daniel Gibson hurled three shut out and hitless innings of relief, collecting seven strikeouts, the Red Sox got a run back in the top of the seventh with out even recording a hit. With one out, three walks and a hit by pitch scored the first run for YD (3-1) as Chatham utilized three pitchers in the inning. The Sox had the bases loaded with one out after the run scored but an infield fly pop out by Cody Keefer and a Brian Johnson strike out (his third of the game, 0-4 with a GIDP) halted the threat.
A wild pitched scored an Angler runner from third in the bottom of the eighth to regain their three run lead, 4-1.
That run turned out to be significant because in the top of the ninth the Red Sox bats briefly came alive. A single by Mason Katz began the inning. Then with one out, James Ramsey laced a triple to right field to bring in Katz and cut the Chatham lead in half, 4-2. If Chatham had not scored in the eighth, the tying run would now have stood on third base and a classic Pickler squeeze play would have been a tempting option.
Unfortunately, the Sox offense could not pull off the complete comeback and dropped their third straight game.
It was a wild game. Assistant Coach Chris Podezwah was tossed for arguing balls and strikes late in the game and for a good cause as the home plate umpire’s strike zone was wide and erratic all evening. The benches and the fans were heated about umpire calls all game. The players likely were too as all but three batters in the game did not strikeout: Katz and Stephen Piscotty, who came in as pinch hitters and only had two at-bats each, and Chatham’s Stephen Perez.
The Red Sox seek a much needed win against the Hyannis Mets at home on Sunday, first pitch is at 5:00 PM.
Thanks to YD Broadcast for statistics work.
