by Courtney Swift
Kettleers Lead Writer
June 19, 2012
ORLEANS – The bullpen kept the score close through eight, but it was another defensive error that led Cotuit to their third loss of the season. The Kettleers lost 4-1 against the Orleans Firebirds after an overthrow in the eighth inning.
Orleans got on the board in the second after a solo shot by Mike Montville (Maryland). Tony Kemp (Vanderbilt) gave the ball good chase, but was unable to make the grab, diving over the outfield fence. “It was just a mistake, left a fastball up,” starter TJ Pecoraro (Vanderbilt) said. “The hitters here are good enough to drive the ball so he got a good piece of it and sent it out.” Pecoraro gave up just one hit and one run while striking out four in his outing.
The Kettleers tied the score 1-1 in the fourth after a couple infield singles and a sacrifice bunt to score Tim Kiene (Maryland). But Orleans took it right back in the fifth. Cameron Griffin (Stetson) got the loss for Cotuit after giving up the go ahead run to Orleans in the bottom of the fifth after a two out single up the middle by PK Kitamura (Hawaii) to bring the score to 2-1 Orleans.
The pitching staffs battled, keeping the score at 2-1 until the bottom of the eighth. Both starters only went four. Galli Cribbs Jr. (San Jacinto College) made a diving stop at second base and played smart, noticing the runner heading for home. Cribbs threw to home catching the Orleans player in a rundown, but Aramis Garcia (Florida International) overthrew third baseman Adam Nelubowich (Washington State) allowing the runner to score and Orleans to take a 3-1 lead.
“We have to kind of grow up as a team and learn how to pitch hit run the bases and play defense all the in the same night,” Roberts said. “That shows to me a very young, not immature necessarily, but not a very efficient club, and we’ve got to become an efficient club if we want to compete in the Cape League.”
Orleans would score again after a sac-bunt bringing the score to 4-1 Orleans. They would send in their All-Star closer, Trevor Gott (Kentucky) to finish the game for the Firebirds.
The Kettleers are off Wednesday, but return home Thursday for a three game home stand. “I cherish all 22 home games,” Roberts said. “This is kind of our second go around with our starting rotation. I hope that they will be as good as they were to begin with, but we will be better on the offensive, defensive, and base stealing side.” Cotuit moves to 3-3 on the season but will face Orleans again Thursday, looking for a bit of payback.