Sean Dwyer hit his first home run of the summer in Y-D?s 4-3 loss to Harwich Wednesday night.
By: Corey Burns
After a rainout Tuesday, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox played their second straight game against the Harwich Mariners, this time at Red Wilson Field. The Red Sox were seeking revenge but came up short with a 4-3 loss, dropping their last two, while the Mariners continue their seven-game win streak.
Ben Lively, out of Central Florida, took the loss for the Red Sox in his first start of the year. Lively went 5.2 innings giving up seven hits and four earned runs, while striking out six.
Louisiana State University?s Aaron Nola toed the rubber for the Mariners, coming off of a five-inning, 10-strikeout performance against Hyannis. He gave up three hits, allowed one run in six innings and struck out five to earn the win.
Lively looked fierce through the first four innings allowing just two hits, no runs, five strikeouts, and silencing the bats of the Mariners.
He was also handed the lead in the bottom of the second inning when Sean Dwyer belted a solo shot, his first home run of the season to make it 1-0.
That home run was Aaron Nola?s first earned run of the year, which seemed to trigger a switch to a different level. After Dwyer?s bomb, Nova retired the next nine Y-D batters in a row, struck out five and allowed just one hit in the rest of his outing.
In the top of the fifth, Lively ran into some trouble. Austin Wilson led off the inning with a walk. Lively then retired Brian Ragira on a fly ball. Austin Wilson stole second while on a pitch in the dirt while Sam Dove was at the plate. Dove grounded out to Lively and could not advance Wilson to third. When it looked like Lively would get out of the inning unscathed C.K. Irby hit a two-run home run to put the Mariners up 2-1.
Mike Connolly followed the home run with a single to center for his first hit of the season. Leadoff man, Matt Reida also singled with two outs to make it first and second. While Jacoby Jones was at the plate, both runners advanced on a ball in the dirt, then a wild pitch by Lively scored Connolly from third that gave Harwich the 3-1 lead. On the next pitch Jones struck out to end the inning.
Lively came out for the top of the sixth to face Phil Ervin. Ervin hit a solo shot, his sixth of the year, for the 4-1 advantage. Eric Jagielo followed with a single, but got Austin Wilson to ground into a 1-6-3 double play. With two outs recorded in the sixth, the Red Sox made the pitching change. Brian Gilbert came in to retire Ragira and pitch 2.1 inning allowing one hit and no runs.
In the home half of the seventh the Red Sox looked to get even. Joey Bourgeouis replaced Aaron Nola and Alex Blandino and Dwyer started with inning with back-to-back singles. Zak Blair grounded out to first but moved the runners to second and third. Tanner Mathis hit a sacrifice to second scoring Blandino and advancing Dwyer to third. Mason Katz pinch-hit singled to center scoring Dwyer making it a one-run game. Katz stole second on a ball in the dirt to get into scoring position. Wayne Taylor swung and missed strike three, but advanced to first on the passed ball, while Katz went to third. With men on the corners Carlos Asuaje hit a deep fly ball to left but caught to end the inning a run behind at 4-3.
In the top of the ninth, Cole Swanson came in to face one batter and walked Jagielo. Preston Hatcher relieved Swanson and struck out three consecutive Mariners.
Zane Evans relieved Bourgeouis in the ninth to earn the save for the Mariners with a 1-2-3 inning.
The Red Sox are scheduled to make up their game in Brewster tonight at 5 p.m.
