BOURNE – Longtime Chatham Anglers field manager John Schiffner didn’t seemed the least bit phased when a 0-0 deadlock turned into an unexpected, 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the fifth at Doran Park Wednesday night.
Chatham Anglers’ southpaw Daniel Castano (Baylor) had a strong start last night versus the Bourne Braves but go the no-decision.
Sean Walsh/Caepcod.com Sports
Even if the irony was that the run came unearned after a one-out double by Bourne Braves’ shortstop C.J Chatham (Florida Atlantic).
Still, the solo run scored that inning by the host Braves was enough to knock Chatham starting southpaw Daniel Castano (Baylor) out of the game after five complete. He got the eventual no-decision after a solid performance with three strikeouts and three hits allowed.
The Anglers (2-0)scored two runs in the top of the sixth to go ahead 2-1, led by third baseman Will Craig (Wake Forest) who hit a one-run single off of Bourne reliever Bryan Baker (North Florida) to start things off. Craig advanced to second on a wild pitch and then got moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Aaron Knapp (Cal-Berkeley). With two outs, Chatham shortstop Zach Short (Sacred Heart) doubled to right centerfield to make it 1-1 and then Aaron Barnett (Pepperdine) made it a 2-1 game with a basehit to left.
The Braves (0-2) tied it back up in the bottom of the sixth inning, 2-2, when Ryan Boldt hammered a one-out triple off of reliever James Mulry (Northeastern) and came scampering home on an Alex Robles’ grounder to short off of reliever Chad Martin (Delaware).
Tied 2-2 heading into the ninth it was the fourth Chatham pitcher used – Jim McDade (Millersville U.) – who got the win in relief after tossing two no-hit innings with two strikeouts when the Anglers plated pinch-runner Kyle Brooks (running for Barnett who had singled). Brooks was moved to second base on a sac bunt by Nick Sciortino (Boston College) and then came home on an infield error for a 3-2 lead and the eventual final score.
Chatham closer C.J. Burdick (San Diego) notched the save as he struck out two in the bottom of the ninth and escaped after issuing a one-out walk.
Bourne Braves’ Alex Robles leads off second base in last night’s 3-2 loss to the Chatham Anglers.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
Hyannis Harbor Hawks Spoil Cotuit Kettleers’ Home-Opener at Lowell Park
Central Michigan’s Nick Deeg turned in seven solid innings of two-hit, shutout pitching in his Cape League debut Wednesday night and paced the Hyannis Harbor Hawks (2-0) to a 5-0 victory over crosstown rivals, the Cotuit Kettleers (1-1) at Lowell Park.
JaVon Shelby (Kentucky), Justin Arrington (Baylor), Austin Hays (Jacksonville) and Jake Rogers (Tulane) each turned in two hits apiece for the Harbor Hawks. Cal Becker took the loss for the Kettleers.
Harwich Gets First Win Over Defending Cape League Champ Y-D Red Sox
A pair of walks, an infield error and a timely hit from Drew Ellis (Citadel) gave the Harwich Mariners a pair of first inning runs at Merrill “Red” Wilson Field last night, and the Mariners tacked on two more in the sixth to solidify a 4-2 win over the Y-D Red Sox (0-2).
Johnny Adams (Boston College) doubled in Cavan Biggio (Notre Dame) and Ellis in the guests’ two-run sixth inning.
Geoff Bramblett (Alabama) notched his first win of the season after six innings of solid work with six strikeouts. He walked two and scattered five hits in the win. Luke Scherzer (Virginia Tech) picked up the save in relief after tossing a scoreless ninth.
Wareham Gatemen 10 – Falmouth Commodores 1
Brewster Whitecaps 6 – Orleans Firebirds 4
Cape League Notes: Cape League Hall of Famer Aardsma Back in the Bigs
The Atlanta Braves’ continuing search for bullpen help has brought Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Famer David Aardsma (Falmouth, 2002; Class of 2010) back to the big leagues for the first time since 2013. Atlanta summoned Aardsma from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday after signing him to a minor league deal three days earlier.
Cape League Hall of Famer and now Atlanta Braves pitcher David Aardsma when he played for the Falmouth Commodores.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
It didn’t take long for Aardsma to get his feet wet in Atlanta. He was summoned from the bullpen in the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s game against San Diego after the Padres had scored twice in the inning and built a 5-0 lead. With two outs and a runner on second, Aardsma faced left fielder Justin Upton. He threw two quick strikes, then retired Upton on a popup to second base to end the inning.
Atlanta came back with five runs of its own in the home half of the sixth and won the game 6-5 on a pinch-hit solo home run by Joey Terdoslavich (Chatham, 2009) leading off the eighth. The Braves used four more relievers after Aardsma, with another former Cape League star, Jason Grilli (Cotuit, 1995; Brewster, 1996), nailing it down by recording his 16th save of the season.
The Braves have been desperate for bullpen improvement and are hoping that Aardsma, a former Seattle closer whose career was interrupted by hip, elbow and groin surgeries, will continue to provide it. They made room for him on their active roster by optioning right-hander Cody Martin to Gwinnett. Martin was previously sent to Triple-A on May 19 and recalled on June 1. He is 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA. Atlanta signed Aardsma on June 6 after he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract that allowed him to become a free agent if the Los Angeles Dodgers did not add him to their active roster by June 1. Aardsma had been pitching well for L.A.’s Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City, where he appeared in 20 games, posting a 2.41 ERA with 23 strikeouts and seven walks in 18 2/3 innings. He converted 15 of 15 save opportunities as the team’s closer.
The Braves, who entered Tuesday’s game with a majors-worst 4.90 bullpen ERA, made their interest in Aardsma known almost immediately after he was released by the Dodgers.
“We had a number of good offers, and the Braves – they wanted me the most,” Aardsma said. “They were very adamant about getting me here, giving me an opportunity. You have to go somewhere where they want you.”
Aardsma made one appearance for Gwinnett on Sunday throwing a perfect inning, including two strikeouts. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2013 when he was with the New York Mets. He missed the entire 2011 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and got into one big league game for the New York Yankees in 2012.The 6-3- 220-pound righty spent all of last season with the St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple-A club in Memphis.
The move makes sense for the Braves, who can’t afford to wait around hoping the bullpen problem will miraculously correct itself. Aardsma, who has nothing more to prove in the minor leagues, is the 17th pitcher used out of the Braves’ bullpen this season; they used 15 all of last season.
“He only had one inning in Triple-A (for us),” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, “but he’s a guy with pretty good numbers in the minor leagues … and he’s got some major league experience. He hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since, I think, 2013, but here’s a guy who, put him in the right situation, I think he can help us.”
Aardsma brought with him a 4.23 ERA in eight major league seasons. His next appearances for the Braves will be his 300th in the big leagues. He last pitched in the majors in 2013 with the Mets, posting a 4.31 ERA over 43 appearances, with 36 strikeouts and 19 walks in 39 2/3 innings. He has a career record of 15-17 with a 4.23 ERA to go along with 69 saves.
— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm. Additional information (Aardsma) provided by the Cape Cod Baseball League Public Relations Office
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