Rick Knapp pitched six innings, allowing four runs on six hits, while striking out five in Y-D?s loss Tuesday.
By: Andrew Constant / @andrew_constant
Dominic Ficociello knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning and the Orleans Firebirds beat Yarmouth-Dennis 5-4 Tuesday night at Eldredge Park.
JT Riddle reached on an error by first baseman Sean Dwyer to lead off the decisive final frame, and advanced to second on a groundout. Ficociello then singled up the middle, scoring Riddle easily from second and giving Orleans their third win in five chances against Y-D this summer.
Rick Knapp started for the Red Sox and tossed six efficient innings, allowing six hits and four runs, while striking out five and walking none. He threw 71 of his 94 pitches for strikes and kept the Orleans hitters off balance much of the night.
In the fourth inning, it looked like Knapp would escape unscathed, but Zak Blair committed a throwing error on a potential double play ball, putting Firebirds runners on second and third. Ficociello drove in the first run with a groundout and Angelo LaBruna hit a ground rule double to left, giving Orleans the lead at 3-2.
But Knapp settled down and only allowed one more run in his outing before giving way to the bullpen in the seventh. Brian Gilbert worked a perfect inning and AJ Vanegas yielded just two hits and a walk in two scoreless frames of his own. Preston Hatcher worked a 1-2-3 10th inning before the winning run crossed in the 11th.
The Red Sox got off to a good start with the bats, thanks to a big second inning. Blair singled with one out and went to second when Justin Shafer connected for a single of his own. After a groundout and a walk, Josh Tobias chased Blair and Shafer home with a ground rule double down the left field line, for his sixth and seventh RBI of the summer.
Sam Travis knocked in a rule with an RBI single to right in the top of the fifth inning and Blair tied the game at four apiece in the top of the eighth to cap the scoring for the Red Sox, who have lost three of four since winning seven straight.
Y-D is back in action Wednesday night when they travel to Chatham to take on the Anglers at 7 p.m. Chris Anderson, who allowed eight runs, two earned, in his last start against Brewster, is scheduled to be on the hill for the Red Sox.
