The Hyannis Harbor Hawks were able to come away with a 5-3 win after a late-game scare against the Orleans Firebirds on Friday night at Eldredge Park.
The Harbor Hawks and Firebirds were tied nearly all game until the Harbor Hawks got ahead in the eighth inning, but nearly lost it all in the ninth. Although the Firebirds managed to score a few runs off pitcher Van Froling and climb back into the game, Froling ultimately sealed the victory for the Harbor Hawks.
“Van struggled a little bit, he didn’t have command of all of his pitches tonight. [Van] had a little too much traffic,” Hyannis manager Mitch Karraker said. “But, he made pitches when he had to, so it was a good team win.”
Despite the stumbles on the mound, the Harbor Hawks’ pitching staff and defense were able to hold the Firebirds to only three runs on 12 hits. The pitching staff consisting of Froling, Ryan Bosch and newcomer Trey Swygart threw a total of nine strikeouts on the night.
The scoring started in the fourth inning with a solo home run by designated hitter Andrew Lamb. This is Lamb’s second game in a row hitting a home run, and his second home run of the season.
Though spirits were after Lamb’s score in the top of the fourth, they’d soon come to a screeching halt in the bottom of the fourth. While making a miraculous double play, second baseman Charlie Bates’ suffered an ankle injury after Firebirds’ left fielder Tyler Myatt slid into him cleat first. JC Davis came in to replace him at second base and in the batting lineup. Bates–having the most hits this season–has played a crucial role on the team. Karraker said Bates’ injury will be evaluated in the coming days.
Although Davis had big shoes to fill, it would later prove to be no problem at all.
The Firebirds were able to tie it in the sixth inning after a double by second baseman Johnathan Gomez and an RBI single by Myatt to send him home. However, the Harbor Hawks were not down for the count.
In the eighth inning with catcher and newcomer Tyler Lang on third and shortstop Matt Ineich on first, a wild pitch drove Lang home and moved Ineich to second, giving the Harbor Hawks the lead once again. The offense wasn’t finished just yet, as center fielder Jax Gimenez was able to put himself in scoring position on a single and a stolen base, and move Ineich up one as well. Then with Davis up to bat, a line drive single drove both runners home and gave the Harbor Hawks a 4-1 lead. Davis said that although he feels for his injured teammate Charlie Bates, he was glad to step in and contribute to a few runs.
“I know he’s alright, but good to help the team win.” Davis said.
The Harbor Hawks big eighth inning was still not done, as left fielder and newcomer Clay Thompson was able to reach first on a fielding error and move Davis into scoring position. Finally, a single by first baseman Caden Miller sent Davis home and closed out the scoring for the Harbor Hawks.
The road to the win looked clear for the Harbor Hawks, but the Firebirds refused to go down without a fight.
With Froling now on the mound and Myatt and Firebirds’ shortstop Casey Cumiskey in scoring position, an RBI double by Adrian Beltre Jr.–who was previously pitching for the Firebirds earlier in the game–sent Myatt home. Then a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Ryan MacDougall drove Cumiskey home, and just like that the Firebirds were back in the game.
While Froling and the Harbor Hawks defense were able to get out of the eighth inning, the offense were unable to extend the lead in the ninth, and before they knew it the bases were loaded with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and a walk off win seemed almost imminent. However, with a sea of Firebirds fans cheering for Beltre Jr. to have a hit to tie the game, Froling quieted the crowd and delivered one final strikeout to seal the win for the Harbor Hawks.
Karraker said that despite Froling's imperfect game, he ultimately got the job done and played a big part in the team's win.
“That bases-loaded pitch, three-two, was huge,” Karraker said. “He could have easily folded his tent and that could’ve gone a lot worse. But, he buckled up and did a nice job of getting a stop.”
Most of the Harbor Hawks team will now have two days off before the next game. However, pitchers Brady St. Pierre, Cohen Gomez and Truitt Webb will travel to Whitehouse Field to participate in the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game on Saturday night. Charlie Bates was also set to participate in the game, but with the recent injury, his playing status is currently unknown.
The Harbor Hawks will return to regular play on Monday when they take on the Chatham Anglers at Veterans Field. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
