Hunter Watkins, the 6’9” sophomore from Oklahoma State, made his second start of the season on Friday night. He was Y-D’s starting pitcher on Opening Day last week in Brewster, where he allowed 2 hits in 4.2 innings of scoreless work.
Brayden Dowd led off the bottom of the frame with a routine fly ball to Chatham left fielder Ace Reese (Mississippi State), but an error by the Angler outfielder allowed Dowd to reach second base. Chris Hacopian singled to put runners on the corners, but a double play off the bat of Alex Hernandez ended the inning.
Watkins struck out another two batters in the second inning, continuing to cruise through the Angler lineup. Cody Miller singled in the bottom of the inning, advancing to third base on a throwing error by Tate Carey. Carey’s wild pitch during the next at-bat allowed Miller to score the first run of the ballgame.
For the third straight inning, Watkins recorded two strikeouts. He carried a perfect game into the fourth inning, repeating his stellar outing in Brewster, where he had a no-hitter through three. Dean Carpentier continued his recent hot stretch, hitting a double to lead off Y-D’s part of the third inning. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch, coming around to score soon after thanks to a groundout off the bat of Will Baker.
Chatham finally got to Watkins, with standout center fielder Henry Ford hitting a home run to the opposite field. Watkins got out of the inning thanks to fantastic defense behind him, including two great plays in the outfield. Hernandez made a spectacular running catch in foul territory, with AJ Soldra one-upping his teammate by making a diving catch a few moments later. Second baseman Miller scooped up a ground ball on the other side of second base, completing the play with a strong throw to first baseman Carpentier.
Y-D took the lead right back in the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of Miller’s first home run of the season. His first homer traveled 371 feet, coming off the bat at 101 miles per hour.
“I knew I was going to see a heater, got it timed up, and was ready to ambush one in a 3-1 count,” Miller said after the game.
Watkins got through five innings, only allowing two hits with seven strikeouts. Michael Catalano replaced him in the sixth, continuing to mow down the the opposing hitting. Hernandez and Nolan Traeger each doubled, capped off by Soldra’s first home run of the summer.
After another inning of shutdown pitching by Y-D, the offense got back into action. A Dowd single and Hacopian walk set the table for Hernandez’s first home run of the year. Hernandez now has a 1.125 OPS, the second best in the Cape League.
Ryan Renfroe closed out the game for Y-D, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Scott Pickler’s pitching staff has allowed only six hits over the last two games, continuing its impressive start to the season. The undefeated Brewster Whitecaps visit Red Wilson Field on Saturday, with an exciting matchup scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
