by Steve McCarthy
June 15, 3010
FALMOUTH - A seventh-inning
throwing error by Cotuit Kettleers first baseman
Kevin Patterson (Auburn) botched a trick play and
allowed Falmouth Commodores baserunner Kevin Madrano
(Missouri St.) to cross with the game's only run
Tuesday night in a well-pitched affair at Guv Fuller
Field in Falmouth.
The Kettleers tried to cut down Madrano on his way
to third after faking an intentional walk. Chris
O'Brien (Wichita St.) managed to put Cotuit reliever
John Healy's (St. Anselm) pitch into play and
Patterson's throw across the diamond sailed wide of
third baseman Levi Hyams (Georgia).
“We were just hoping we could get somebody in
scoring position and Kevin Madrano had the big
hit,” Falmouth manager Jeff Trundy said. “I give
Chris O'Brien a lot of credit too, to be on his toes
and be alert in that situation.”
Cotuit fell to 0-2 while Falmouth remains unbeaten
after their home opener at 2-0.
Falmouth starting pitcher Mark Pope (1-0, Georgia
Tech) struck out 11 batters in seven innings in the
first start of his second season with the
Commodores. His no-hitter bid was broken up in the
sixth inning by Cotuit's Joey Hainsfurther (Baylor),
who had the only hit off Pope. Four of Pope's
strikeouts came in the fourth inning as Cotuit's C.J.
Cron reached when strike three was a passed ball.
“My splitter was working really well,” Pope
said. “That's something that's been a little iffy
for me all year.”
Pope said he typically relies on his two-seam
fastball to induce more ground ball outs than
strikeouts but was able to keep hitters guessing
with breaking pitches Tuesday.
“I really didn't even notice it was a one-hitter
until I came out and everybody told me (Falmouth
teammate) Cecil (Tanner) had asked about it being a
no-hitter,” Pope said. “As soon as that
happened, there was a hit into right field. I blame
that on him.”
Steven Gruver (Tennessee) fanned five batters in the
final two innings to pick up the save (1). Gruver
and Pope combined on a two-hitter.
“Historically, certainly when I look over past
seasons, the first couple of weeks favor the
pitchers, without question,” Trundy said.
Matt Murray (Georgia Southern) gave Cotuit a quality
start in his Cape League debut, allowing just two
hits in six innings. He struck out six and did not
walk a batter.
“I was just trying to throw strikes,” Murray
said. “I haven't been on the mound in a while.”
Southpaw Healy (0-1) took the loss after
pitching just one-third of the seventh inning as
Cotuit manager Mike Roberts went to his bullpen for
right-hander A.J. Achter (Michigan St.) to face clean-up
hitter O'Brien. Falmouth's run was not charged to
Healy. Achter finished the game for the Kettleers,
striking out three in an inning and two-thirds.
The Commodores left a runner stranded on third in
the first inning but Murray settled in to retire 16
batters in a row. Madrano had three of Falmouth's
five hits in the game. K.C. Serna (Oregon) and Matt
Summers (Cal. Irvine) accounted for the other two.
Hainsfurther and Cron each singled for Cotuit, which
has managed just six hits in its first two games
combined.
The Kettleers' baserunning improved from a stealing
shutout in the season opener to swiping three bags
Tuesday.
Cotuit will host Hyannis Wednesday evening at 5 p.m.
in the home opener at Lowell Park.
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