After a 15-8 loss to Hyannis on Monday, the Wareham Gatemen (20-14-1) are now riding a three-game losing streak for the first time in 2024.
Following Wareham Hitting Coach Mike Mobbs’ ideology, you can look at this positively and say that it’s impressive they haven’t lost more than two consecutive contests up until this point.
But it’s hard to ignore the randomness with which Wareham has struggled in this second half slump. They’re 6-9 in the second half of the regular season and have experienced serious run-producing issues since the midpoint of the season. They’re slashing just .260/.321/.366 with runners in scoring position in the second half.
Yet, their offense was competent in their most recent defeat. The Gatemen collected eight knocks – five of which extra-bases – and went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position in Monday’s loss.
It was the pitching that faltered. After Darin Horn (Coastal Carolina) went just one and 1/3 innings, Manager Ryan Smyth and company were forced to deal as many bullpen arms as possible to make it the distance. Horn allowed five earned runs on four hits and three walks. Seven more arms would be ushered out of the bullpen. They combined for nine earned runs.
In fact, just two Gatemen pitchers escaped unscathed, with Brok Eddy (Arizona State) and Griffin O’Connor (Georgetown) both throwing scoreless innings.
As Wareham searches for consistency, they come out of their third day off in four days with a team they’ve invariably succeeded against: The Bourne Braves (16-16-1). They’re 3-0-1 against Bourne and have outscored them 29-20 in their four meetings this summer. But they haven’t seen Bourne in over ten days. Last time these two West division foes met, Bourne was just 12-15-1. Going 4-1 in five games since, Bourne is at a .500-win percentage for the first time since game 2 (!) of the year. Bourne is on two consecutive wins right now, a different type of Braves squad right now.
Wareham will pay their third and final visit to Bourne’s Doran Park as they look to hit the reset button ahead of a 6 p.m. first pitch Wednesday, July 31.
Starting Pitchers
The Wareham Gatemen turn to their ace Tate McGuire (Arkansas) to snap the skid. The 6-foot-3 right-handed All-Star will take the mound for his team-leading seventh start this summer.
McGuire uses a high strikeout rate to be so effective. With 27 strikeouts in 23 and 1/3 innings, McGuire has a team-best 1.93 ERA – the second-best ERA among qualified pitchers in the league.
He most recently appeared in the 2024 Cape League All-Star Game, where he threw a scoreless sixth inning for the West, shutting the East’s offense down in order. Before that, he had an abbreviated but effective start at Brewster back on July 24. He tossed two and 1/3 innings scoreless and earned the win – the Gatemen haven’t won a game since.
Bourne Manager Scott Landers will trust Chase Meyer (West Virginia) as they search for a third consecutive win. The 6-foot-2 righty is a successful case of relief pitcher-turned-starter. He had four relief appearances before throwing two consecutive starts leading up to his third nod.
He’s given up just three earned runs through 15 and 1/3 innings pitched this summer. As a reliever he tossed five and 2/3 innings and allowed just two earned runs. As a starter he’s combined for eight and 1/3 innings and has allowed one run. So, he tallies an impressive 1.76 ERA. Like McGuire, Meyer relies on a high strikeout rate. He’s punched out 20 hitters in his 15 and 1/3 innings.
Meyer is coming off his longest outing of the year when he tossed four and 2/3 scoreless innings against Y-D a week ago on July 24. Although he took the loss in that game, that was Meyer’s best stuff all summer.
Both pitchers will look to build momentum from positive outings.
Players to Watch
Both teams’ offenses have skillsets of their own. Wareham is a high-average, high-power lineup, while Bourne features elite on-base skills.
The Gatemen’s .264 team batting average ranks second in the league, and Yohann Dessureault (Stetson) has been the catalyst of that for Wareham. The All-Star second basemen went 2-for-4 after hitting a home run and a double in Wareham’s loss on Monday. The All-Star second baseman has four multi-hit games in his last ten outings and slashes .354/.372/.562.
Considering Bobby Boser’s departure from the Team, Dessureault’s only grown with more innings. He’s second on the Gatemen with four homers and has really broken out in the second half. He’s hit for a .380 average since the midpoint of the season and has hit more homers than any Gatemen in that stretch (3).
As for Bourne’s’ .351 team on-base percentage – third best in the league – Marek Houston (Wake Forest) leads the league in on-base percentage (.475). And the All-Star shortstop’s on-base skills have only gotten better throughout the season.
Houston is slashing .329/.475/.355 thus far and is riding an 11-game on-base streak coming into this contest. With a pure-contact approach, Houston isn’t necessarily a power threat. He has just two extra-base hits this summer – both doubles. But in this 11-game on-base streak, Houston is hitting a bunch of singles for a .350 average in this stretch.
It’ll be a true test of Wareham’s power and Bourne’s persistence for a game that kicks off the final stretch of regular season baseball this summer. No off days, no breaks, just baseball until August 5.
You can watch the live broadcast as well as other Gatemen content on the Gatemen Baseball Network YouTube channel HERE.
The Gatemen Baseball Network pregame show will go live at 5:45 p.m. ahead of a 6 p.m. first pitch at Doran Park.
Top Photo Caption -- Yohann Dessureault (Stetson) locks in pregame versus Harwich on July 26, 2024. Photo by Keegan Maloney.
