The Hyannis Harbor Hawks secured their first comeback win of the season against the Orleans Firebirds at Eldredge Park on Wednesday night, 6-4.
Down by two runs, the Harbor Hawks offense rallied in the ninth inning to take the lead over the Firebirds.
“It’s been a tough go, especially offensively. It’s good to finally push through,” Hyannis manager Mitch Karraker said. “It was good to finally have that sustained excellence in our bats. Happy for the guys, some really good performances, some good guys that came off the bench that came in and helped a lot.”
Leading the charge was second baseman Kyle Alivo, who up until this point had only been positioned as a pitcher for the Harbor Hawks.
“He’s working both sides of the ball. Pitching is his first priority, but we know he’s a good player on the other side too,” Karraker said. “Just made sense tonight. Left-hander on the mound, wanted to give another guy some rest and kind of shift some things up a little bit, and it looked good because it worked out.”
Alivo went four for four, including a solo homerun in the fifth inning, singles in the second and seventh and a leadoff double in the ninth, beginning the Harbor Hawks' comeback rally.
“I’m glad I got the opportunity, and I’m grateful for it,” Alivo said. “Happy we could get the win.”
The Firebirds jumped ahead early in the first inning with a three-run homer by right fielder Bub Terrell. The Harbor Hawks were unable to respond until the top of the fifth inning when Alivo homered to center field, cutting the lead to two.
Terrell was able to put the Firebirds’ lead back up to three in the bottom of the fifth inning with another homer, this time a solo shot. However, Harbor Hawks' left fielder JP Head responded with a solo homerun of his own in the top of the sixth inning, leaving the score 2-4.
For the next three innings, the Harbor Hawks' defense held firm to prevent the Firebirds from extending their lead any further, and to set up for an offensive surge in the ninth.
After Alivo’s leadoff double, catcher Will Fosberg stepped up to the plate to pinch hit, and walloped an RBI single to center field, sending Alivo home. A hit-by-pitch to right fielder Henry Zenor put him on first, and moved Fosberg to second, and a subsequent wild pitch moved the runners up one more, putting them in scoring position. With no outs yet in the inning, catcher Jon Embury hit a sacrifice fly to right field, tagging Fosberg and sending him home and moving Zenor to third. Another hit-by-pitch–this time to first baseman Caden Miller–put him on first.
With the game now tied 4-4 and a chance to take the lead, Head went to bat once more and hit a sacrifice fly to right field, tagging Zenor and sending him home. With this, the Harbor Hawks took their first lead of the game.
However, the Harbor Hawks weren’t done yet. An RBI double by shortstop Charlie Bates–courtesy of a fielding error by Firebirds’ left fielder Tyler Myatt–sent Miller home and put the Harbor Hawks up 6-4.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Harbor Hawks' defense locked the Firebirds down to keep their lead and secure the comeback finish.
Head said the win was thanks to an all around excellent performance on both sides, and the key to keeping this momentum is to continue to play as a team.
“Pitching has been good, then we don’t hit. Or the hitting has been good and we don’t pitch well. So right now, it’s just figuring out how to be a team.” Head said.
The Harbor Hawks' next match up is against the Harwich Mariners in a rescheduled game at home after being rained out on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
