Someone call the fire department, because the Wareham Gatemen are on fire. After starting the month of July 0-5, the Gatemen have won seven of their last eight games and are on a season-high six-game winning streak.

On Wednesday, the Gatemen finished their season series with the Harwich Mariners with a 13-8 victory. Now they turn their attention to Cotuit to face the Kettleers for the third time this season.

The Kettleers are coming off an 8-5 loss to the Y-D Red Sox after a late rally came up just short. Before that loss, however, they were on a three-game winning streak and have gone 5-4-1 in their last ten games.

The Gatemen delivered a blowout in their last matchup with Cotuit, winning 16-9 at Spillane Field on July 6. The win evened the series between the division rivals as Cotuit won their first meeting on June 15 in a 1-0 walkoff victory. Now the Gatemen aim to make it seven straight and secure their hold on the West.

Starting Pitchers

Tonight, the Gatemen will start right-hander Tate McGuire (Arkansas). McGuire has performed well as a starter for the Gatemen in both his first and second years with the team. This summer, he pitched 8.0 innings, allowed 5 hits, 2 earned runs, walked 3, and struck out 3 in 3 appearances, 2 of them being starts.

In his last start against the Bourne Braves on July 11, he went 4.0 innings, allowed 3 hits, 2 earned runs, and walked 2 batters. He has been a reliable arm for the Gatemen throughout his entire career on the Cape. Look for him to set the tone early.

The Ketts counter with their southpaw Rob Evans (Miami). Evans appeared in one game this season, and it was a start. In that appearance against Falmouth on July 11, he threw for 4.0 innings, allowed 3 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), a walk, and struck out a batter. He will need to be sharp against a Gatemen lineup that leads the league in runs scored with 139.

Players to Watch

For Wareham:

• Caden McDonald (Florida) has been “tearing the cover off the baseball,” according to Gatemen Field Manager Ryan Smyth. McDonald went 3 for 4 with a walk, 3 RBIs, and 3 runs scored against Harwich on Tuesday and holds a .341 batting average, the largest on the team with at least eight appearances.
• Kollin Ritchie (Oklahoma State) has also been hitting very well. He crushed a three-run home run against Harwich on Wednesday, marking his fourth in six games.

For Cotuit:

• Ryne Farber (Texas State) had a great night for Cotuit against Y-D on Wednesday, going 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. He is batting .309 for the summer and has been a key part of this Kettleers lineup.
• Luke Matthews (Kent State) has taken over the shortstop position after the release of star player Jarren Advincula (California). He also went 2 for 4 against the Red Sox on Wednesday.

First pitch for tonight’s game will be at 5:00 p.m. at Lowell Park in Cotuit. Admission is free, but if you cannot make it to the game, you can always tune in to the Gatemen’s radio broadcast with Cory Miller, Josh Richardson, and Rayna Maggelet on the call by clicking HERE.