The Falmouth Commodores showed improvement, but were not able to get the best of the number one ranked Orleans Firebirds on Friday evening, losing by a score of 5-3. The Commodores were able to put themselves in favorable situations, but were not able to get key hits in a game without much offense on both sides.
The first run of the game came in the third inning for the Firebirds. Two ground ball base hits, one to the right side with no outs, and the other to the left side with two outs, spelled one run.
The bottom of the next inning the Firebirds scored their second run. With one out the Firebird hitter managed a double, which was followed by a Commodores error and a squeeze play advanced the score to 2-0.
Once again the Firebirds were able to manufacture a run in the bottom of the fifth. The inning started with three straight hits, scoring the third Firebird run, but credit the Commodores pitching for limiting the damage when there was one out and runners on second and third. The score after five was 3-0.
The Commodores were finally able to crack the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning. With one out right fielder Heath Quinn (Samford) knocked a triple over the center fielder’s head. The next batter, left fielder Boomer White (Texas A&M), skied a fly ball to right fielder that Quinn was able to tag up on and score. The score was 3-1 going into the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh the Commodores threatened the Firebirds, but were not able to cause damage. With two outs the Commodores had a runner on second before first baseman JJ Matijevic (Arizona) knocked a single to right field. Unfortunately, the Firebirds right fielder was able to fire a bullet to the catcher to throw out the potential run scoring Commodore.
In the bottom of the eighth the Firebirds put themselves into a bases loaded situation on two walks and a hit with no outs. Two straight hit by pitches scored two runs for the Birds. Three straight strike outs limited the damage in the inning.
In the top of the ninth the third baseman Shane Benes (Mizzou) hit a two run home run to left field to cut the score to 5-3, but those would prove to be the last runs of the night.
Heath Quinn delivered an excellent performance on the night, managing three hits on four plate appearances. His All-Star counterpart JJ Matijevic was able to extend his hitting streak to 14 games in his final at bat.
“Obviously this is a good team, they have been in first place for pretty much the whole year and they have good pitchers, so you just have to take advantage of their mistakes and be aggressive early in the count,” said Quinn.
The Commodores are clearly trying to change things up on offense as Coach Jeff Trundy decided to give pitcher Conor Costello (Oklahoma State) a chance to be the designated hitter. Costello is no stranger to the offensive side of the ball but this was the first time he has stepped up to the plate for the Commodores. Costello managed one hit on four plate appearances.
The Commodores are back in action on Sunday at home against Brewster. For more information about the Commodores visit their website at http://www.falmouthcommodores.com.
The Commodores Corner 