BREWSTER, Mass. — Finishing the job. That’s something Falmouth couldn’t do against Brewster on Sunday, despite holding a 3-2 lead in the ninth. Blake Cyr drilled a two-run homer to give the Whitecaps a lead they’d never relinquish.

Since that game, Brewster established itself as arguably the best team in the Cape Cod Baseball League, entering Thursday as the only undefeated team remaining.

But with the Commodores’ last-second loss to the Whitecaps and its offensive surge Tuesday at Orleans, Falmouth had a chance to both avenge its earlier defeat and prove it was a fluke.

It didn’t. Instead, it was the same story again. Falmouth held a lead midway through. Yet Brewster responded to steal the win. The Whitecaps downed Falmouth, 6-4, Thursday, backed by a four-run sixth inning.

“It's a process. Season’s not won at the beginning,” Falmouth manager Jarrod Saltalamacchia said. “It can be lost if you struggle a lot. But I think the boys are doing really well. They're making adjustments at the plate.”

Falmouth entered the game on a high. After scoring four runs over its first three games, it exploded for 14 versus Orleans. The 'Dores jacked their first four homers of the year, while every hitter recorded a hit. They desperately needed to keep the momentum going versus Brewster (5-0).

But Falmouth’s offense reverted back to its old self against the Whitecaps.

Brewster starter Billy Barlow (Florida), who posted a 6.26 ERA with the Gators this season, began strong. Falmouth swung early in the count to start, allowing Barlow to throw just 16 pitches in the first two innings. He sat Falmouth down on four pitches in the first with a Justin Osterhouse double play, then worked past an error and infield single in the second.

For the Commodores (2-3), with the CCBL’s Fenway Day on Wednesday, their rotation reset Thursday. Kaden Echeman (Kentucky), who started Falmouth’s season opener at Chatham, took the ball again. Last time, he held the Anglers scoreless and totaled eight strikeouts over four innings.

He was strong again Thursday. Despite a Daniel Cuvet (Miami) two-out double in the first, he fanned Alex Sosa to end the threat.

Both starters looked to be cruising. But then they hit a roadblock.

After Echeman got two straight outs to open the second, Georgia Tech’s Carson Kerce drilled a solo homer to left to make it 1-0 Whitecaps, Echeman’s first run allowed this season.

And Brewster continued to add on in the third. After Ty Head advanced all the way from first to third on a wild pitch, Josiah Ragsdale — who entered with a team-leading three RBIs — doubled Brewster’s lead with a booming double to right.

But Falmouth’s offense, like Tuesday, responded via the long ball.

For the second straight game, Maika Niu destroyed a two-run, no-doubt homer to left to tie the game at two. Cyr didn’t even move as Niu’s 108 mph blast sailed over his head into the trees. Saltalamacchia praised Niu postgame, heralding him as an elite player.

“He's a big league guy eventually down the road,” Saltalamacchia said. “I think that he’s been hidden over there in Marshall. He's capable of putting bunts in there, hit for base hits and power.”

Echeman then bounced back at the perfect time. He showed he still had his strikeout stuff, notching two of seven punchouts to finish his day in the fourth. Despite his two early runs, Saltalamacchia liked how he rebounded, allowing just three hits for a second consecutive strong outing.

That allowed the Commodores to punch back again. This time, they used small ball. The combination of a Carl Schmidt hit by pitch, Bear Harrison popup single and Barlow error gave them a 3-2 advantage.

After the score, Falmouth paired Echeman with a familiar face — Connor Linn (Northern Kentucky). Linn previously followed Echeman versus Chatham, tossing a dueling four innings and K’ing seven batters.

This time, he struggled. Though he got through a two-runner, no-out situation by forcing the dangerous Cuvet to pop out, the jam flashed warning signs early.

Just like their first matchup, Brewster stayed within striking distance. Barlow was replaced by Arkansas’ Lance Davis, who did what the Whitecaps’ starter couldn’t. Despite a two-out rally from Falmouth, he posted a scoreless sixth.

Brewster turned it into offense immediately. After loading the bases with two outs, a Head walk tied the game. Then, Ragsdale appeared in the clutch again, drilling a two-run single to right to give the Whitecaps their first lead since the third. Brewster led 6-3 entering the seventh.

The damage had been done. And it was eerily similar to Falmouth’s first matchup with the Whitecaps, who mounted a comeback via another four-run inning.

All the Whitecaps had to do was close out the game.

But Falmouth wouldn’t go quietly. Niu and Kent Schmidt singled up the middle, and David McCann walked to open the eighth versus Wake Forest reliever Duncan Marsten. Carl then made it 6-4 with an RBI groundout.

From there, Brewster manager Jamie Shevchik swapped Marsten for Zach Bates. Bates, who stifled Falmouth last time out, did the same Thursday. He got Morales to chase a breaking ball in the dirt to keep the Whitecaps ahead. Bates promptly posted a scoreless top of the ninth, working around an Osterhouse leadoff double to shut the door.

Falmouth had a chance to get back at Brewster on Thursday, but it instead fell into the same habits, blowing a lead and slipping back under .500.

“Obviously, we could have done a little better,” Saltalamacchia said. “It’s just the way this game is.”

Noah Nussbaum is the beat reporter for the Falmouth Commodores. You can read all of his articles on the Commodores here