An Offensive Explosion Propels Y-D to Its Second Win of the Season.

By: Brian Melanson

Coming off of their first win of the season, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox hit the road to take on the Falmouth Commodores at Guv Fuller Field on Tuesday, June 13. In a back-and-forth contest, the Red Sox tallied a new season high in runs and hits en route to a 14-6 victory. Y-D exploded for 14 runs on 16 hits, including two innings of five runs or more on the way to a win.

“The guys have loosened up, they got comfortable with the game,” field manager Scott Pickler said. “They’re feeling more comfortable about themselves. Everybody gets nervous.”

With the bases loaded and the game tied in the top of the seventh, Pickler called on Will King to pinch hit. One of the hottest hitters recently for the Red Sox, King roped a single into shallow left-center field, scoring Brady Day and Y-D took back the lead, 7-6. The run ended up winning the game for the Red Sox as Falmouth was held scoreless for the rest of the contest.

“It felt pretty good,” said King of his go-ahead RBI. “I always have to stay prepared for when my number’s called and try and do my best to do my job.” 

Following King’s performance, Y-D looked to reliever Hector Garcia to hold its lead. Garcia excelled in his first outing of the season, as he did not allow a baserunner in his three-and-a-third innings of work.

“I was just trying to throw strikes,” said Garcia. “That was my main goal to come out here and throw strikes.” Garcia ended the day with four strikeouts before Leighton Finley was called in to close the game.

Unlike their first two games, Y-D’s bats came to life early. After an Enzo Apodaca leadoff single and back-to-back bunts from Nathan Archer and Brady Day loaded the bases, Max Viera slapped a grounder that bounced over the first baseman Charlie Condon’s head for a two-run RBI single.

The hits continued when Hunter Hines singled and scored Brady Day after his ground ball also bounced over Condon at first. The Red Sox capped off their four-run inning with a double steal that extended their lead to 4-0.

The Commodores responded in the bottom of the inning when Michael Eze scored on a passed ball to cut Y-D’s lead to 4-1.

Nathan Archer, who hit a two-run home run in Y-D’s win yesterday, brought the lead back to four at 5-1 after he crushed another homerun over the centerfield wall. 

The Red Sox kept the runs coming in the top of the fifth. After his leadoff single, Viera stole second and third and eventually crossed home on a passed ball to increase Y-D’s lead to 6-1.

Things began to turn in Falmouth’s favor in the bottom of the inning. After another Eze single, he stole second and then third after Dykstra’s throw went over Viera’s head. Next up was Austin Kelley who grounded to Day, but, instead of throwing to first, threw home to try and prevent a run. His throw sailed over Dykstra’s head and the run scored to cut Y-D’s lead to 6-2. 

The bases quickly became loaded after Mitch Voit could not field Tab Tracy’s bunt and Gavin Kilen beat out a throw to first. A few pitches later, Condon cleared the bases on a towering grand slam to tie the game, 6-6. 

After striking out Falmouth’s Scott Bandura for the second out, Fernandez allowed a double to Falmouth’s Ross Highfall and a single to Mike Handal. With runners on the corners, Pickler decided to pull Fernandez for Garcia who ended the inning unscathed.

After King’s heroics, Y-D added some insurance. Day hit a two-run RBI double, Casey Cook cleared the bases on a three-run RBI single, and King blooped another RBI single and scored on a passed ball to cap off their 14-6 win.

Now 2-2 on the season, the Red Sox return home to Red Wilson Field on Wednesday, June 13, to face the Chatham Anglers.