The Harwich Mariners hosted the Y-D Red Sox for Game 2 of the East Division Finals Saturday night. Harwich got the best out of Y-D in Game 1 Friday after hitting a season record six home runs in the 12-9 win. A win for the Mariners would send Harwich to the Finals for the first time since 2024.

Tommy Martin was the starter for the Mariners Saturday. Through three starts, Martin has currently pitched 15 innings with six earned runs. The Maine product has also struck out five batters in his Cape career.

Y-D jumped out to an early 4-0 lead from playing Harwich's special small ball. There were only two extra base hits in the first four innings. Fielding errors from the Mariners defense gave Y-D opportunities and the Red Sox took advantage.

Like in Game 1, the Mariners’ offense struggled to get going out of the gate. Colin Larson and JP Peltier both got caught stealing after reaching base. It was not until the bottom of the fourth inning that Harwich scored.

Ty Smolinski, the MVP of the league, was who sparked the Mariner’s offense. It started with a leadoff double to left-center field. Smolinski was batting .083 in the playoffs coming into the game. Cade Kurland would get struck by Y-D starter Zach Robinson to give Harwich two on base.

Sean O’Leary then ripped a ball to Y-D’s second baseman Ryder Robinson. Robinson was not able to field the ball allowing Smolinski to score from second. JP Peltier wanted in on the fun poking a ball to center field to score Kurland and give the Mariners the second run of the game.

Tommy Goodin has had the Mariners number all season when he's playing at Whitehouse Field. Four out of the five home runs Goodin has hit this season have been at Whitehouse field. In the top of the fifth inning, Goodin launched one to center field to give the Mariners a 5-2 lead.

The Mariners tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe kept the offense going with a single to center field. Colin Larson then drew a walk after a nine pitch at-bat. Ty Smolinski stepped to the plate with two runners on and was able to launch a ball to deep left center field that left the yard to tie the game at 5-5.

“Coming up with runners on first and second and a chance to tie the ball game, that was the only thing in my mind,” said Smolinski.

JP Peltier was doing it all Saturday. The third baseman made play after play in the field and also had himself a three hit game. The third hit came in the bottom of the sixth inning after Peltier knocked a ball into center field. Quinton Coats then came into the game pinch hitting for Paul Jones. Despite not seeing an at-bat in this series, Coats was ready. The Cincinnati product crushed a ball that got over the Red Sox center fielder's head and scored Peltier to take a 6-5 lead.

Colin Larson extended the Mariners lead in the bottom of the seventh after heads up baserunning. While on second base, a Y-D wild pitch gave Larson a free base to third. Y-D’s catcher Matteo Serna slowly approached the ball towards the backstop which allowed Larson to continue his sprint home and give the Mariners a 7-5 lead.

Like in Game 1, Y-D came roaring back in the ninth inning. After a leadoff pop fly, four straight Red Sox reached base. Y-D’s Jake Sounders singled on a ball to third base to put the Red Sox only down one run in the top of the ninth. With bases loaded and one out, Steve Englert called upon Reese Oakley to send the Mariners to the championship.

Phoenix Call was the first Red Sox player to strike out, and that was on seven pitches with the final one being a high heater Call couldn't catch up to. Reid Howard was the last chance for Y-D. Four pitches was all it took to send him back to the dugout and send the Mariners to the championship.

“(Coach) Stevie had confidence in me to put me there in that situation, and I was amped up, really excited to get in the game. They looked silly swinging at my stuff,” said Oakley.

The Mariners won four games in a row to sweep the two giants in the East.

“Resiliency. These kids just, they’re buffalo, man. They run into the storm and get through it, and I just love it. I love these kids, and they play their butt off every night, and I’m happy to find them like that. They go on to experience the championship,” said Coach Englert.

What's Next?

The Mariners will play the Bourne Braves for the title. The last time the Mariners were in the finals they ultimately took down Bourne in three games in 2024. Bourne is no pushover, they have won three of the last four Cape League Championships. The Mariners are 3-1 against Bourne this season.

Game 1 is Monday.

First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.