CHATHAM, Mass. — When the rain lightly started to fall at Veterans Field in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s game between the Bourne Braves and Chatham Anglers, the teams were knotted in a pitchers duel. Though each team would find their offense late, the rain took over the game and caused both sides to settle for a 2-2 tie after eight innings.
As has been the case in many Braves games this season, neither team could find their offense early. The Bravos collected a few hits, but couldn’t string any together for a run. The Anglers were held totally off the board, thanks to Bourne’s LHP Will Whelan (Minnesota). The southpaw threw 5.0 innings with six strikeouts all while not allowing a hit.
The Braves’ first run came unconventionally in the sixth inning. CF Matt Bolton (Binghamton) got the Braves’ rally going with a free pass, then advanced to second on a balk. He made his way to third on a wild pitch in the same at-bat, and completed his journey around the bases thanks to a sacrifice fly by 3B Luke Costello (Wake Forest).
In the bottom of the seventh, the Anglers received some help to tie the game. With one out, Cooper Neville (Dallas Baptist) drew a one-out walk. During the next at-bat, Bourne’s LHP Aiden Stillman (Vanderbilt) sailed the ball on a pickoff attempt to first. The ball rolled into foul territory in right field and resulted in a three-base error, allowing Neville to score all the way from first.
Though there were slight showers in the seventh, the rain started falling hard in the eighth inning. The Braves offense took advantage. With two outs, Luke Costello drove a line drive past Chatham’s center fielder for a double. The next Braves’ batter, 1B Garrett Michel (Arizona State), followed with a line drive of his own that bounced over the left field fence for a ground-rule double. Costello came in to score on the Michel hit, and the Bravos had taken a 2-1 lead.
With Veterans Field now in the middle of a rainstorm, the Braves went out for the bottom of the eighth. RHP Ben Dean (Duke) replaced Stillman on the mound, but struggled to find his command. After a leadoff walk and wild pitch gave the Anglers a runner in scoring position, Connor Shouse (Texas Tech) came through with Chatham’s first and only hit of the night. The Anglers’ designated hitter swatted a ball into center field, bringing the runner home from second and tying the game at two.
The next Chatham batter of the inning walked, putting runners on first and second with only one out. With the game seemingly slipping away from Bourne, Dean got Cooper Neville to fly out to center field. Shouse, who was on second base before the play, seemingly forgot how many outs there were and took off for third while the ball was in the air. Braves’ center fielder Matt Bolton threw the ball into second, and the Braves finished off the double play. Before the ninth inning could begin, the umpires quickly convened and declared the game complete due to the rain.
WHAT IT MEANS
After settling in a tie for the third time in nine games this summer, the Braves have surpassed their total amount of ties from last season. With a Falmouth loss tonight, Bourne is back at the top of the leaderboard in the West, tied with the Commodores for the top spot in the division.
BOURNEBRAVES.ORG PLAYER OF THE GAME
Will Whelan is tonight’s Player of the Game. The lefty out of Minnesota had one of his best outings in a Braves uniform, throwing 5.0 innings of no-hit baseball. Though he struggled with command at moments, Whelan stranded all five baserunners he gave up.
NEXT UP
The Braves return to Doran Park to face the Cotuit Kettleers on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET.
