The Orleans Firebirds traveled to Harwich on Thursday to face the Mariners for the final time this season. Wednesday night, the Firebirds got the best of the Mariners taking them down in just eight innings after a 10-0 mercy-rule win. The Mariners entered the game needing a win after losing their last four games and only putting up three runs on offense in the last 36 innings.

Jackson Peavy was the starter for the Mariners Thursday. Peavy has started for the Mariners four times this season and has 15 ⅔ innings of work with a 2.30 ERA. His most recent start was the last time Mariner win, a victory over Falmouth last Thursday. The rising sophomore went four innings and gave up two runs while striking out three Commodores.

The Firebirds struck first after taking advantage of free bases. Peavy’s control was a struggle for him, walking five batters in the first three innings. In the top of the second inning, with the bases loaded and no outs. Garrett Larsen grounded into a 6-4-3 double play but was able to score one runner and give the Firebirds the first run of the game. A Dominic Cadiz single scored the second Firebird in the inning and gave Orleans a 2-0 lead.

Peavy lasted only three innings after hitting 78 pitches in the first three frames. Despite allowing two runs, Peavy was able to pick up five strikeouts in the start.

Streak broken

Going into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Mariners had not scored a run in 27 innings. The bats have been very quiet during the sixth week of the season, with Harwich's last runs came during the three-run inning in the 9-3 loss to Wareham on Monday.

In the bottom of the fourth inning tonight, Nate Castellon got the offense started with a leadoff single before quickly stealing second base. A Ty Smolinski single soon after put the Mariners on the corners. Paul Jones would get intentionally walked to load the bases. Sean O’Leary then stepped to the plate and ripped a ground ball to the Orleans’ first baseman Dominic Cadiz. Cadiz was not able to make the play which allowed the ball to drift towards shallow center field.

Castellon was able to score easily and some heads up baserunning from Smolinski would be the second Mariner to score on the single. The close play at the plate was in Harwich’s favor after Smolinski's swim move to avoid the tag and tie the game at 2-2.

Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe had been a Mariner since the first game of the season and the speedy center fielder’s bat came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kiracofe was able to hit his first home run of the year into deep left field to give the Mariners a lead and give the offense momentum they desperately needed.

The Firebirds came back in the top of the seventh after putting up a three-run inning after RBIs from Magpoc, Cadiz and Tyler Harmony to take the lead 5-4. A Cadiz double in the top of the eighth helped the Firebirds extend their lead to 6-4.

Despite a late run from the Mariners in the bottom of the ninth, Harwich wasn't able to get it done. The game of baseball gives and takes from you at times, despite the Mariners having the longest losing streak in the league with five. Harwich is in position to be the third seed in the East division. There's plenty of baseball left to be played and the Mariners are not done yet.

What’s Next?

The Bourne Braves will make the trip over the bridge to face the Mariners Friday.

First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.