The Firebirds made the trip back up to Wareham on Tuesday to take on the Gatemen at Spillane Field. Their third matchup marked another clash between the East and West’s most inferior. Despite poor records overall, both teams were looking to change the narrative. Orleans was looking for their first three game winning streak of the season.

Birds players had earned themselves a much needed off day Monday after their triumph versus the Anglers on Sunday. A team trip to Skatet beach was in order. Tyler Myatt (Tennessee) took the opportunity to do some amateur photography, a hobby he’s been working on for several years. Since capturing photos of local wildlife in his home state of Tennessee, he’s taken his talents to the shores of the Cape.

Many Cape League fans and participants have surely had the time to wonder why Wareham is included in the CCBL while making the hour-long drive from the Mid-Cape. When the Cape League was first formed in 1923, its only teams were Hyannis, Chatham, Falmouth, and Osterville. Wareham joined as the first expansion team in 1927. This early five-team version of the Cape League operated until 1940, when the economic strife of the Great Depression forced the league to disband.

The league resumed in 1946 after World War II. Wareham has captured nine league titles in their history. Clem Spillane Field is named after Wareham High’s most legendary coach, who led the football, baseball, and basketball teams to several titles in the ‘40s and ‘50s.

Before first pitch, unfortunate news rippled throughout the dugout. Dominic Cadiz (UCLA) was a late scratch with a shoulder issue. Cale Stricklin (Charlotte) was set to get the start behind the plate, but was replaced last minute by Ryan MacDougall (Dayton). New lineup cards had to be copied and distributed.

When the Birds come to Wareham, they bring inclement weather. Smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota had travelled all the way to the Cape, enveloping the grounds in dark grey.

The gloominess was an accurate representation of how the Birds played on Tuesday. It was yet another quiet night for the offense, which only scored two runs all night despite collecting eight hits. Orleans starting pitching finally faltered, as Jake Echols gave up five earned runs in less than three innings. As night fell in Wareham, the Birds fell to the Gatemen, now sharing the league’s worst record of 8-17 with them. The Gatemen are only heating up, while the Birds stalled out for another deflating loss. Orleans will have to wait even longer for their first real winning streak.

Mark Brissey from Arkansas took the ball for the Gatemen. He was touching 96 miles an hour with effectively spotty control. Free bases led to two Birds runners but no action.

Jake Echols (GCU) struggled out of the gate. He allowed three straight hits to the top of the Wareham order. After a wild pitch, it was quickly 2-0 Gatemen after a laborious first.

Echols settled down in the second inning, spreading out two baserunners and recording strikeout number one in his first official start.

The sun blazed through a smoky haze above Wareham High School. Echols returned for the third inning with fully rolled up sleeves. His batterymate Ryan MacDougall sported baby blue catcher’s gear representing his college team’s colors. Manager Kelly Nicholson flashed signs to MacDougall. MacDougall relayed them to his defense between batters.

Echols could not make it through three innings. He punched a second ticket, but allowed two more seeing-eye singles. Dylan Dubovik’s double scored another Wareham run. A nice relay from Myatt to Casey Cumiskey (SNHU) to MacDougall saved a fourth. After Tony Lira belted one 400 feet into the left field bleachers for his first homer of the season, the Birds were down 5-0.

D.C. Brown (Brown) entered to salvage the third with two outs. A grounder finally put a Band-Aid over the wound.

MacDougall broke up the no-hitter in the fourth, guiding a ball into left. No further support would come. Brissey had six strikeouts with just four innings — Orleans had no answer for his high-octane heat.

Brown continued into the bottom of the fourth. Spooky vibes settled over a packed Spillane Field. Humidity swirled in the wind. A wall of smoke still loomed, blocking out the sunset. The leadoff man singled and stole second. Known baseball demolisher Coen Niclai made Brown pay, knocking an RBI double off the center field wall. The Birds would need a six run comeback.

Birds’ bats finally broke through in the fifth against new pitcher Micah Takac. Three straight singles scored their first run. The third hit and RBI belonged to Adam Magpoc (SDSU) who scored the winning run last time out against Chatham.

Brown shut the Gatemen down in the bottom of the frame. He recorded two more strikeouts to bring his total to four. Despite one run allowed, he was nasty with his offspeed pitches.

MacDougall reached for the third time with two outs in the sixth. Tyler Harmony (Northeastern) walked, and another butchered grounder by the Gatemen led to a gift run for Orleans.

Luca Alagheband (Harvard) bounced back from a rough last appearance against the Anglers, recording a scoreless inning with a K.

The top of the seventh came and went. Alagheband pitched around another hit from Niclai. The Birds had two opportunities left.

Much like Chase Frey had weeks ago, starter Casey Euper (Pepperdine) entered in the eighth. It was likely Euper’s final appearance for the Birds. He is set to participate in All-Star festivities this weekend, but will depart the Cape afterwards. He struck out one and walked one. The inning ended when Garrett Larsen (Yale) made a diving catch in right — doubling off the runner at second.

Orleans had three outs remaining. Wareham closer Finn Edwards was sitting at 97 miles an hour. Cumiskey doubled. Rowan Kelly (UCSB) singled. With runners on the corners and no outs, Magpoc K’d. Myatt grounded into a 4-6-3 twin killing to end the game in brutal fashion.

Orleans will be back at home on Wednesday to take on the Harwich Mariners for the third time this summer.