Orleans Cardinals Defend Home Turf in 4-2 Win Over Kettleers

Kettleers Find Themselves in Third Place Behind Wareham

July 15, 2005

By Sean Walsh, Web Editor

ORLEANS, MA -- What a difference a day can make in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

    Just 24 hours after posting their second consecutive shutout and victory, the Cotuit Kettleers wound up falling to Eastern Division perennial contenders the Orleans Cardinals, 4-2, last night at Eldredge Park. The loss put Cotuit behind Wareham and Bourne, with the Bourne Braves taking over first place in the Western Division, and Wareham, second place. The Kettleers now stand at 13-11-1 on the season.

    Ahead of Orleans, 2-1 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the wheels came off for the Cotuit pitching staff as the Cardinals plated three runs to go ahead 4-2.

    Young Harris closer Charles Blackmon (1-1) got the loss, while Orleans' pitcher Brant Rustich got the win, his first in a Cape League uniform. Nathan Culp started the game for Cotuit and went 4.1 innings, striking out three, walking two and allowing one earned run out of 15 batters faced. Tim Ladd came on in relief of Culp and also gave up a run. Blackmon gave up two runs when he came on in relief of Ladd in the seventh.

    Top hitters for Cotuit included Brad Boyer (1-4), Todd Davison (2-3, RBI), Bryan Harris (1-4), Roberto Lopez (1-2), Emeel Salem (1-3) Mike Hollander (1-3) and Shane Jordan (1-3).

    Cotuit welcomes the Y-D Red Sox to Lowell Park this evening for a 5:00 p.m. game. Cotuit heads to Harwich and B.F.C. Whitehouse Field tomorrow night, Saturday, for a 7:00 p.m. start.