3-2. 6-1. 10-4.
Those are the results of the three games played between the Hyannis Harbor Hawks and Brewster Whitecaps so far this summer, all ending in Hyannis losses.
Monday evening, they added 4-2 to the list. After tying the game in the top of the seventh inning, the Hawks gave up two in the bottom of the inning to the Whitecaps, going on to lose 4-2 in a game that was called after the top of the eighth inning due to darkness.
The Hawks dropped to fourth in the West Division at a 12-14-3 clip, while the Whitecaps retook the lead of the East Division and the entire Cape League in the process. Hyannis wrapped up the regular season series with Brewster 0-4, failing to beat the Whitecaps even once.
Hyannis manager Mitch Karraker said the team didn’t have a lot of chances with runners on base this time, and it ended up costing them.
“They made pitches, and we did not in certain spots,” said Karraker. “I think we only had a couple chances, most of them were with two outs. [The] only one we did not [have with two outs] was with Ryan [McKay], and he hit into a double play, but we feel really good about his at-bat there. Just the way the game goes sometimes.”
With two outs in the second inning, Brewster jumped ahead when Carson Tinney scorched a double to right-center field, driving in Collin Priest for the game’s first run.
After Charlie Bates worked a four-pitch walk to keep the Hyannis half of the fourth inning going, Myles Davis dropped a single into left field to bring in Jeff Lougee to tie the game 1-1. That lead didn’t last long, as a pair of two out Brewster walks brought Tinney to the plate again. He popped a 2-2 pitch from Max Stammel down the first base line that deflected off the glove of Ryan McKay and fell in, allowing Priest to score again and put Brewster back in front 2-1.
The Hawks had an answer in the top of the seventh. Sawyer Black, who had robbed Brewster’s Alex Sosa of a home run in the first inning, drove a double to center field to bring in speedster Owen Prince and tie the game 2-2.
It was a sigh of relief for Black, who had been scuffling at the plate for the Hawks, but was finally able to get the team going in a big spot.
“It always feels good to hit a double, but it felt good to tie the game up at the time. Felt good to get a barrel there,” said Black.
With one out in the bottom of the inning, the Whitecaps had two runners in scoring position on Hyannis’ Zach Edwards. A sac fly by Cal Fisher and a single by Brendan Lawson scored Colton Coates and Scott Newman to put Brewster in front 4-2. Brewster’s Landon O’Donnell retired the Hawks in order in the eighth before the game was called, earning the save in the process.
Eddie Copper made his second start of the summer for the Hawks, allowing one earned run in 3.2 innings. Karraker then made the call to Stammel after that, five days after slotting into the starting rotation, for a relief outing. Stammel produced 1.2 scoreless innings, with Karraker saying that he wanted to get the lefty some extra work before his next start.
“With the off days and how spread out everything is right now, we wanted to get him some work before his next start,” said Karraker.
After Sam Garewal ended the sixth inning for Stammel, Zach Edwards came in for the seventh. He was tagged with the loss after giving up a pair of runs on two hits and two walks.
Karraker explained that Edwards was supposed to go in the game in the eighth or ninth, but with a hunch that the game would soon be over due to the sun setting, made the move in the seventh.
“He made some good pitches,” said Karraker. “Unfortunately, they put some good swings on it, were able to work a walk and an infield single, they put down a good sac [bunt] and executed.”
The Hawks will have to bounce back quickly to keep pace in a tightly packed West Division. They will welcome the Harwich Mariners to McKeon Park Tuesday night, who Hyannis is 1-0-1 against after beating them 4-1 at home June 15 before a 2-2 tie on the road to start July.
Tyler August, fresh off pitching a scoreless inning in the Cape League all-star game, will make his first start of the summer for the Hawks. Karraker said that early strikes will be key for August against the Harwich lineup.
“He's been really good for us. Obviously as an all-star, he's shown that he can be really good,” said Karraker. “Need him to get us off to a good start, and hopefully we can score some runs behind him.”
August will face Harwich’s Gianni Gambardella in the matchup, with the righty from the University of Maine making his third start for the Mariners. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at McKeon Park.
Michael Najarian can be reached at mikenajarian379@gmail.com and on X @MichaelNaj3.
