By A.J. Spirito
FALMOUTH – It was the Bourne Braves who snapped the Commodores’ six game win streak a week ago and since then the ‘Dores haven’t been able to win a game. Tonight, the Braves came back into Guv Fuller Field and stole another one from Falmouth in a 7-5 heartbreaker.
The night was a dedication to the late Pat Loftus who had such a big influence on the Falmouth Commodores and their volunteer program. Pat loved the game of baseball as much as anyone and he would have appreciated the performance by Kyle Bradish on the mound tonight.
Bradish (New Mexico State) got the start for the ‘Dores and he was dominant. The undefeated pitcher went five innings, striking out five, and not allowing a single Brave to cross the plate. Bradish was in line to get his third win, tying the league lead, but his bullpen wasn’t able to support him.
After only a four hit night last night, Falmouth made sure they got things going early tonight. George Janca (Texas A&M) and Cam O’Neill (Holy Cross) supplied the firepower, blasting two second inning bombs over the left field fence to put Falmouth up 4-0.
The wheels started to come off a bit for the Commodores in the sixth.
Zach Leban (Kansas) came out of the bullpen and gave up two hits, three walks, and four earned runs to Bourne, letting them back into the ballgame. He did not record an out.
Mitch Miller had to come into the game for a Luke Skywalker vs the Rancor moment with the bases loaded and no outs and he got the job done, striking out two and not allowing a single earned run as all runs were charged to Leban.
Miller (Clemson) returned to the mound in the seventh and was not as fortunate this time around. Bourne’s Scott Schreiber launched a two run homer to put Bourne ahead for good 6-4. Prior to that home run Miller had only given up two runs this whole season, so he has been one of Falmouth’s most reliable arms out of the pen.
Bourne added one more to their lead in the eighth off of Miller and that was the dagger in the Commodores for the night.
Marty Bechina (Michigan State) would drive in Alec Bohm on a groundout in the bottom of the eighth but that wouldn’t do anything except add to the Bechina RBI total, which is the league lead at 22.
With the loss the Commodores fall below .500 and still hold their place in the middle of the West Division. Falmouth (11-12) will head to Hyannis (9-13) tomorrow to make up their washed out game from last week. First pitch is at 6 pm.
The Commodores Corner 