CHATHAM — Georgia Tech junior slugger Matt Gonzalez went yard twice and fellow Yellow Jacket Connor Justus went 2-4 with four RBI and a home run of his own as the duo led the Harwich Mariners to an 8-3 win Sunday night at Veterans Field over the host Chatham Anglers.
The Harwich victory – combined with a Brewster Whitecaps win over Falmouth – pushed Brewster into second place in the East Division standings.
Boston College righty Justin Dunn shut the door on Orleans for the save Sunday night at Lowell Park.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
The Cape Cod Baseball League playoffs begin Monday, August 3 and the last day of the regular season in Sunday, August 2.
Harwich was down, 2-1, heading into the top of the fourth inning when Preston Palmeiro (NC State) led off with a double to centerfield and then Justus hammered a two-run shot for a 3-2 lead.
Chatham starter Garrett Williams (Oklahoma State) stayed in but a pair of walks to lead off the fifth inning saw reliever Jeff Paschke (USC) take over only to watch the visitors pour it on for more. A wild pitch advanced both Gonzalez and Palmeiro and then Justus drove them both in with a double and a the lead increased to 6-2, Harwich. The Mariners tacked on another run in each of the sixth and ninth innings and Chatham could only fight back with a solo score in the seventh.
Gonzalez went 2-5 with two RBI – both of his hits were solo home runs.
Cotuit Stages Upset over Orleans Firebirds, Haynie and Kendall Go Deep
COTUIT — Alabama catcher Will Haynie and Vanderbilt’s Jeren Kendall both hit solo home runs Sunday night at Lowell Park to lead the Cotuit Kettleers to a 4-2 upset over the top-dog Orleans Firebirds.
Orleans Firebirds slugger Willie Abreu fouls one off in the top of the ninth inning but was struck out by Justin Dunn. Alabama’s Will Haynie was behind the plate and belted a solo homer – his 7th of the season. Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
Cotuit starter Daniel Brown, a southpaw out of Mississippi State, went seven strong innings for the hosts and struck out six for the win. Penn State’s Jack Anderson tossed a scoreless 8th inning in relief and then Boston College righty closer Justin Dunn shut the door in the 9th frame for the save.
Brody Weiss (Riverside CC) and Spencer Gaa (Bradley) both added key RBI for the Kettleers and Weiss’s defensive effort at third base proved key in the win.
Bourne Braves Put On Hitting Clinic in Rout Over Wareham Gatemen
WAREHAM — The Bourne Braves kept fighting to get to the top in the West Division Sunday night at Spillane Field with a 14-hit, 9-1 barrage over the host Wareham Gatemen. Bourne remains a game-and-a-half out of first place in the West behind the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. The Harbor Hawks are fighting for a 3rd straight divisional crown with seven days left in the regular season.
Louisville’s Nick Solak and Lehigh’s Mike Garzillo both banged out three hits for the Braves and punched in three runs apiece to lead the hitting onslaught.
Peter Alonso (Florida) and Reid Humphreys (MIssissippi State) each added two hits for Bourne and Humphreys had two RBI including his fourth home run of the season.
Illinois righty Cody Sedlock went six innings and struck out four batters for Bourne for the win.
Orleans Firebirds field manager Kelly Nicholson congratulates Cotuit helmsman Mike Roberts on the win.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
Hyannis Harbor Hawks Stay on Top of West with Win over Y-D Red Sox
HYANNIS — Central Michigan southpaw Nick Deeg took his record to 4-3 Sunday night with a fantastic seven-inning performance for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks as the Hawks defeated the visiting Y-D Red Sox at McKeon Park, 5-1.
Deeg struck out seven and walked none while allowing one run on seven hits. His earned run average is now 2.04 on the season.
Leadoff man Errol Robinson (Ole Miss) went 3-4 with one RBI and Jake Rogers (Tulane) went 2-4 with two RBI and a homer to pace the Hyannis hitting attack. Blake Tiberi (Louisville) and Corey Bird (Marshall) each added two hits for the hosts.
Josh Vidales went 2-3 for the Red Sox.
Extra-innings Win Pushes Whitecaps into Second Place in the East Standings
Jack Meggs (Washington) drove in the eventual winning run in the top of the 10th inning Sunday night at Fuller Field as his Brewster Whitecaps held on for a 4-3 win against the host Falmouth Commodores.
Mississippi State’s Daniel Brown (37) hugs Boston College’s Justin Dunn after the win. Dunn got the save, Brown got the win for Cotuit.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
Tied 3-3 after nine innings, Colin Lyman (Louisville) singled with two outs and then scored on Meggs’ game-winning baseknock. Meggs went 2-5 with two RBI and Toby Handley (Stony Brook) went 2-4 with one RBI for the Whitecaps.
The run made a winner out of reliever Nick Highberger (Creighton) and Oregon’s Trent Paddon notched the save with two men on in the bottom of the tenth inning.
Falmouth’s JJ Matijevic (Arizona) went 3-4 on the night with one RBI.
— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm
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