Commodores Put Cotuit in a World of Doubles

Falmouth wracked up 11 runs on 19 hits, eight of which were doubles, on their way to a much-needed win against the Kettleers in Cotuit on Wednesday. Two of Jake Rodriguez's five hits found him standing at second when the dust had cleared, and all three of Jeremy Baltz's hits were doubles as well.

Falmouth pitching was solid throughout, with starter Andrew Heaney surrendering only one run in seven full innings, Andrew Smith holding Cotuit scoreless in the eight, and John Simms pitching a perfect ninth to close things out.

The Commodores hung five runs on Cotuit starter Kevin Ziomek in his three innings of work, and kept the offense coming against relievers Kendall Graveman and Mason McVay, who between them surrendered six runs in six innings.

The Kettleers actually scored first, when Ryon Healy singled to drive in Victor Roach from third with two outs in the first. But that was all the scoring the Kettleers would do all day.

Falmouth got its first run in the top of the second. After Spencer Kieboom and Jared King reached on back-to-back one-out singles, Shane Rowland walked to load the bases. Eric Garcia grounded out to the shortstop to bring Kieboom in from third and tie the game. It was little indication of the offensive explosion to come.

The doubles began in the next inning, and didn't let up until the game was over. Rodriguez and Baltz led off the top of the third with back-to-back doubles, which put another run on the board. In the fourth, Rowland doubled home Jared King, and scored three batters later on another Rodriguez double, his second in as many innings.

Baltz notched his second RBI double in the sixth, driving home Rodriguez again, then scored on a Max White single to center to push the score to 7-1.

After two innings of quiet, Falmouth made the game an official laugher with four runs in the ninth. After loading the bases on two walks and a single to begin the inning, the Commodores followed with three more hits, doubles by Kyle VonTungeln and Baltz sandwiching a single by Rodriguez.

Every Commodore batter except White and Barrett Barnes scored at least one run, and all but Barnes had at least one hit, though the first baseman did reach safely three times, on two walks and a hit by pitch.

With the win, the Commodores stay out of the Western Division basement, where Cotuit has dwelt for most of the season, and keep pace with rivals Bourne and Wareham. The first-place Hyannis Harbor Hawks are in town on Thursday night, when the Commodores will look to continue the hot hitting.