Mariners Sink Commodores with Single Well-Aimed Shot

Falmouth got another strong start from reliever-turned-starter Nathan Thornhill on Wednesday night against the visiting Mariners, but it was all for naught, as the offense was kept firmly in check by six Harwich pitchers, and the Commodores fell, 1-0, on a seventh inning solo home run.

The first batter of the game, Harwich's leadoff man Ronnie Richardson, reached base on an error by Falmouth shortstop Eric Garcia, but Thornhill pitched around the runner without apparent difficulty, with Richardson helping out by being caught stealing second on a strong throw by catcher Spencer Kieboom.

Thornhill was impressive again, yielding just three hits, walking one, striking out three, and not allowing a run through six innings. Jake Davies, a position player pitching for the first time in his tenure in the CCBL, matched Thornhill through four innings before giving way to a Harwich bullpen which was every bit as effective. At Georgia Tech, Davies is a threat both on the mound and at the plate, and he was also Harwich's designated hitter on Wednesday night.

All told, the Commodores managed just four hits, two of them by designated hitter Jeremy Baltz. Caleb Reed took over for Davies and struck out two in the fifth. Lex Rutledge and Chris Overman handled the sixth and seventh, respectively, surrendering two walks and one hit between them. Carter Capps, in the eighth, and Blake Hauser, in the ninth, provided a pair of exclamation marks for Falmouth's tough offensive night, recording K's on Falmouth's last six outs.

The only base runner in the last two innings, Barrett Barnes, arrived at first via a hit by pitch in the ninth. Barnes made it into scoring position when he stole second with two outs, but he was stranded, as had been every Falmouth base runner before him.

The Mariners' slim margin of victory came on a solo home run by Luke Voit off Falmouth reliever Andrew Smith to lead off the top of the seventh. It was all they'd get, and all they'd need.

With the All-Star break commencing immediately following the game, Falmouth closer John Simms could afford to do a little extra work, and finished off the game after relieving Smith with two down in the seventh. Simms allowed one hit in his 2.1, striking out four.

The Cotuit Kettleers lost on Wednesday as well, keeping them five points behind the Commodores for fourth place in the Western Division, and the final playoff spot. When play recommences on Saturday, Falmouth will have only four games remaining in the season, the first, on Saturday evening, a critical hosting of those same Kettleers.