story by Steve McCarthy
July 27, 2010
COTUIT - The Cotuit Kettleers have been waiting for a
closer to emerge from their pitching staff all summer.
It looks like Ryan Duke is the man for the job.
The junior
flamethrower from the University of Oklahoma came on to
record the final four outs -- five if you count the
potential game-ending strikeout that culminated with a
passed ball allowing Wareham's Zach Wilson (Arizona St.)
to reach -- as the Kettleers took a 2-1 decision Tuesday
from the Gatemen.
Cotuit (18-15-2)
was the only victorious Western Division team Tuesday
night, and extended their lead over second-place Bourne
to four points heading into the All-Star Break. The
Kettleers will return to action on Thursday when they
host the Braves.
Wareham fell to
16-19-1 but continues to trail Bourne by a single point.
Duke struck out
three of the five batters he faced in picking up his
second save. He has made four appearances since arriving
in Cotuit at the start of the month.
Just handing the
ball over to him, you know it's over, Cotuit starting
pitcher Nick Tropeano (Stony Brook) said.
The save gave
Tropeano (2-3) his second win of the summer. Both have
been by the same score. Tropeano went seven innings and
has thrown at least that in each of his last four
starts. He allowed six hits and struck out two while
walking three. Wareham's run was unearned.
I've faced that
lineup a couple of times, Tropeano said. I just
tried to attack hitters and let my defense do the
work.
Tropeano was locked
in a battle with Wareham starter Josh Urban (Texas), who
settled in after allowing a first-inning run and lasted
six innings, allowing six hits, three walks and striking
out three. He was responsible for both Cotuit runs.
Cotuit's Chad
Wright (Kentucky) came around to score in the first
inning on Jordan Leyland's (UC-Irvine) RBI double after
singling for the first of a game-high three times. The
Kettleers managed just three hits over the next four
innings.
Cotuit field
manager Mike Roberts called on Zach Cone (Georgia) to
pinch hit with two-outs in the sixth inning and Michael
Yastrzemski (Vanderbilt) standing on third. Cone laced
an RBI single into left field which ended up being the
game-winner.
I was just
swinging first-pitch no matter what, Cone said.
That's what turns games around, if you get guys in
with two outs.
Wareham loaded the
bases in the sixth inning with a double and back-to-back
walks, but Tropeano induced an inning-ending groundout
to third.
I had some
command issues with my changeup, but I got right back on
it, Tropeano said. I kept on throwing it, got a
feel for my fastball, and I was right back there.
Tropeano exited
after hitting Wilson to lead off the eighth inning.
David Colvin (Pomona-Pitzer) allowed Wilson to advance
on a pair of singles before scoring on an error by
Cotuit shortstop Deven Marrero (Arizona St.). Marrero
committed two errors in the game.
Wareham reliever
Devin Burke (Duke) held the Kettleers in check over the
final two innings, surrendering three hits.
Nico Rosthenhausler
(Oklahoma St.), Max Muncy (Baylor), and Adam McClain
(Memphis) each had two hits for the Gatemen.
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