BY: TOM SKULSKI, INTERN
The regular season is quickly coming to a close on the Cape, and playoff spots are being solidified. The Red Sox entered Saturday’s contest knowing that their chances of making the postseason are small, but the fat lady has not sung yet.
The bottom line is that Y-D needs nothing but victories for the rest of the season, and that is the only thing they can control. On Saturday, the Harbor Hawks came to town in what was one of Y-D’s most complete games of the season.
Adam Maier, the Red Sox’s starting pitcher, had a fantastic start including a 1-2-3 inning in the first to get the rally started and get the team energized.
Maier would go on to pitch four total innings while giving up just four hits, two runs and three walks.
Relief pitchers Ryan Wiltse and Joe Moran would take the mound in the back half of the game and shut Hyannis down, pitching a combined five innings and giving up a total of two hits.
Beyond just the pitching, the offense was rolling all game long, and they will need to stay hot if they hope to make the playoffs.
Tanner Smith got things going with the bats early on a base hit up the middle. Brooks Lee followed up with a single into right-center that would put runners on the corners for Dom Keegan.
Keegan hit a line drive up the middle to bring home Smith and give Y-D an early lead. It didn’t just end there for the Red Sox, though. Kody Huff would crush the ball over the left field fence scoring three and putting Y-D four runs ahead in the first
Brooks Lee would pick up a two RBI single and extend the lead once again in the second.
The third would feature a second Huff home run making it 8-0 at the end of the third inning.
Hyannis would fight back a little in the fourth with a Joey Raffaele home run that would give the Harbor Hawks their first and only runs of the entire game.
Huff was the clear MVP of Saturday’s game. He went an impressive 4-5 at the plate with two homers, two singles, and six RBI.
Other solid offensive performances go to Wyatt Hoffman and Brooks Lee. Hoffman had three hits of his own while driving in two runs and scoring one himself. Lee picked up two hits and scored both times he reached base. He also collected an RBI and brought his season batting average up to a red hot .423.
Red Sox coach, Scott PIckler, was very pleased with Saturday’s game and how the boys bounced back after a few tough games this week.
“I thought the swings were good,” Pickler said. “We got some big hits when we needed it. Maier did a good job and then the bullpen saved us. We’ll see. We get to go again tomorrow. We’re still alive.”
Still alive indeed.
If the Red Sox win their remaining four games and the Mariners lose their four, the Red Sox will get a playoff spot. It is a longshot, but still possible.
Y-D can only control so much in this situation, and it is now their job to make sure they win every game. They play again on Sunday night in Hyannis as they take on the Harbor Hawks for a second consecutive game. First pitch is set for 6:00pm at McKeon Field.
