Danbury Tops Newport 6-3

Danbury left-handed starter Sam Tinkham allowed three runs on five hits over eight innings to lead the Westerners to a 6-3 win over the Newport Gulls at Cardines Field on Friday, June 26.

With Danbury’s victory in the contest, the Westerners improve to 3-14 this season, while the Gulls suffer their third consecutive loss, falling to 10-5 overall.

Prior to the game, the Gulls celebrated 15 years in the City by the Sea with a special pre-game ceremony welcoming back former players as a part of the organization’s Family Reunion Weekend, which concludes Saturday night at 6 p.m. at the Newport Marriott with the Gulls Hot Stove Dinner and Auction.

Tinkham, who issued five walks and struck out five, shut down Newport’s potent offense for eight innings, allowing only a Drew Lugbauer two-run homer, but ran into trouble in the ninth when the first three Gulls (first baseman Max Beermann, right fielder Jon Littell and catcher Lugbauer) reached base. But the Westerners summoned right-handed closer Patrick O’Neil, who set down the ensuing trio of Gulls hitters in order to preserve the victory.

Newport starter James Karinchak, who entered the night a perfect 3-0 over 15 scoreless innings in his previous starts, ran into trouble in the first inning, allowing three runs on four hits and a pair of errors as Danbury jumped out to the early lead. He settled down to work four scoreless frames before giving way to left-handed reliever Quinn Brodey, who worked the final four frames, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out a pair of Westerners.

The Gulls started a rally in the third inning when shortstop Shea Donlin and centerfielder Joven Afenir led off with back-to-back singles. Tinkham squashed the rally by getting second baseman Reed Gamache to ground into a force out and third baseman Sean Bouchard to pop out to end the threat.

Newport cut a 3-0 deficit to a single run in the seventh inning when Lugbauer slugged a towering, two-run homer to right field, his second of the season. However, the Westerners came right back, responding with an insurance run in the eighth inning and a pair in the ninth, to extend their lead to 6-2. The Gulls mounted a late rally, loading the bases with nobody out, but O’Neil stifled the comeback effort, allowing just one inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly.

The team is off Saturday and Sunday while the organization celebrates its 15th anniversary and reunion, but the Gulls are back in action Monday afternoon for two 7-inning contests vs. the New Bedford Bay Sox. First pitch for game one of the double header is set for 3 p.m., with game two beginning at 6:35.

For more information about the Newport Gulls, visit facebook.com/newportgulls, follow the Gulls on Twitter @NewportGulls or visit www.newportgulls.com.