COTUIT, Mass. – The Falmouth Commodores defeated the Cotuit Kettleers in a 9–8 slugfest at Lowell Park, moving the club into sole possession of fourth place in the West Division. The game was called at the end of the eighth inning due to darkness.
The Commodores’ lineup had a big night at the plate, scoring nine runs on seven hits. The club got contributions from a variety of hitters, as five players drove in runs during the contest. Shortstop Alex Mooney helped lead the way, going 1-for-4 with three RBIs, including the go-ahead hit in the seventh inning. Designated hitter Corey Collins also left the yard for the first time this summer, during a 2-for-4 performance.
The squads traded the lead four times during the contest, with the ’Dores ultimately battling back to edge out the Kettleers. Mooney said he was impressed with the resiliency of the club throughout the night, moving back into playoff position for the time being.
“I think that’s just a testament to our team [and] the type of guys we have on our team,” Mooney said. “Everyone wants to win and it doesn’t matter if we’re up [or] down, we’re going to try to keep putting runs on the board.”
Will Johnston started the game on the mound for the ’Dores, allowing four runs while striking out five batters in four innings of work. Kaleb Corbett was the first pitcher out of the bullpen, giving up two earned runs and fanning two batters in a frame. Luke Malone then impressed in relief, giving up just two hits and one earned run in 2.1 innings. Josh Stewart closed out the contest, picking up the save by recording the final two outs of the game.
The club also made three errors in the field during the contest. Manager Jeff Trundy said he was impressed with the way the team battled back throughout the game to pick up the win.
“We came out again and scored some runs early, and we didn’t play the prettiest of baseball at times,” Trundy said. “But, I thought the guys really competed well and they came up with some big plays when they needed to, [with] big pitches and big hits. That’s what you’re going to have to do some nights, it’s not always going to be a mistake-free game.”
The Commodores didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard, taking a 2–0 lead in the top of the first inning. Collins was the second batter of the ballgame, and he drove a solo homer over the right-center field wall. First baseman Jacob Walsh then hit an RBI double to left-center field, scoring Peyton Stovall.
Falmouth tacked on another run in the top of the second, extending its lead to 3–0 against Cotuit. Left fielder Travis Chestnut led off the frame by drawing a walk, and he then stole second and third base. Mooney later plated Chestnut with an RBI groundout to third base.
The Kettleers got one of these runs back in the bottom half of the frame, as catcher Caleb Lomavita powered a solo blast over the right field wall. The homer trimmed the Commodores’ lead to 3–1.
Cotuit plated three runs in the bottom of the third inning, taking a 4–3 lead against Falmouth. Left fielder Carter Trice lined an RBI double to left field, driving in Colby Wilkerson. First baseman Tyler Johnson then brought home Tommy Troy by reaching on a fielder’s choice with a ground ball to first base. Lomavita followed this by plating Trice with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Commodores took the lead back in the top of the fourth, taking a 7–4 advantage against the Kettleers. Center fielder Luke Boyers hit a ground ball to first base and reached on an error, allowing Jackson Nicklaus to cross the plate. Chestnut then came home to score on a wild pitch. Stovall followed this by grounding into a double play, bringing in Boyers in the process. Catcher Josiah Cromwick capped off the scoring by hitting an infield RBI single to second base, driving in Mooney.
Cotuit put a pair of runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, narrowing its deficit to 7–6. Lomavita hit a ground ball to third base and reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Troy. Center fielder Eddie Park then hit a ground ball to third base and reached on an error, driving in Trice.
The Kettleers also crossed the plate in the bottom of the sixth, knotting up the game at 7–7. Wilkerson scored the tying run by coming home after Trice reached base on a fielding error by Mooney at shortstop.
The Commodores promptly responded in the top of the seventh inning, going ahead 9–7 over the Kettleers. Cotuit intentionally walked Boyers with two outs, bringing up Mooney with runners on first and second base. The shortstop then lined a clutch RBI single to right field, driving in Chestnut. Mooney said he was happy to come through with the go-ahead hit in a key spot.
“They intentionally walked the guy in front of me, so [I] kind of had a little motivation there to get a knock,” Mooney said. “They wanted to face me, so I was trying to make them pay for it. I got a fastball I could handle in the zone and went the other way with it.”
Collins followed this by hitting an infield single to second base, plating Boyers.
Cotuit didn’t go down quietly in the bottom of the eighth, making it a 9–8 ballgame. Trice hit a ground ball to shortstop and reached on a fielder’s choice, driving in Trotter Harlan. This would hold as the final score, as the right-hander secured the victory by getting CJ Kayfus to ground out to first base to end the game. The game ended at the end of the eighth inning because of darkness at Lowell Park.
The victory improves Falmouth’s record to 13–16–3 on the season. The Commodores will return to action at 6:30 p.m. July 19, as the team will travel to take on the Orleans Firebirds at Eldredge Park.
Note: Featured image by Meghan Murphy.
Click here for Sunday night’s box score.
For Commodores news and updates, follow the ’Dores on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click here for the 2022 Falmouth Commodores schedule.
Tommy Mumau can be reached at tmumau@ithaca.edu. Follow him on Twitter @tommymumau13.
The Commodores Corner 