Orleans Firebirds

Firebirds Explode for 20 Hits in 8-2 Win over Commodores

June 26, 2010

By Tyler Maland

Falmouth, Mass. -Several cases of individual brilliance will be overshadowed by another story Saturday night, and for good reason. The Orleans Firebirds whopped 20 hits, more than doubling their previous season-high of nine, in an 8-2 win over the Falmouth Commodores at Arnie Allen Diamond Saturday night in Falmouth.

Orleans was off to a disheartening start, getting two hits in each of the first three innings but plating no runs because of poor bunting. The Firebirds had their lead runner forced out on a bunt attempt in the first and second inning, and had Danny Muno (Fresno St.) tagged out between third and home in the third inning after a failed squeeze attempt. Falmouth scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Nick Martini (Kansas St.) in the bottom of the third.

Despite the inefficency, Orleans kept hitting. Jason Esposito (Vanderbilt) led off the top of the fourth with a solo homer to left field, his first of the year, to tie the game. In the fifth, Danny Muno singled in his older brother Kevin Muno (San Diego) to make it 2-1, one of three singles in the fifth. Falmouth once again answered the challenge, plating a run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double by Kevin Medrano (Missouri St.).

Falmouth starter Mark Pope (Georgia Tech), who entered the game with no earned runs in 13 innings pitched, did a remarkable job of limiting his runs allowed. In six full innings, Pope allowed 11 hits, six of which were singles straight back up the middle, but just two earned runs. When Commodores reliever Douglas Simmons (Rice) started the seventh, the floodgates opened.

Simmons started his outing by coaxing a fly-out to center by Kevin Muno, but the next six Firebirds reached base on two singles and a walk to load the bases, an RBI walk by Will Piwnica-Worms (Duke), an RBI single by Esposito, and an RBI hit-by-pitch by Mick Doyle (Notre Dame). Jared Hippen (Iowa) entered the game for the rattled Simmons, but Joe Loftus (Vanderbilt) hit a sac fly to right on the first pitch he saw to make the score 6-2 before Hippen finally got out of the inning.

Unsatisfied with its four-run seventh, the Firebirds scored two more runs off of Hippen in the eighth. Danny Muno and Shon Roe (Loyola Marymount) knocked singles, and Steve Selsky (Arizona) hit an RBI double to left and Esposito another RBI single to make it 8-2.

Meanwhile, the Orleans pitching staff got stronger as the day went on. Starter Andrew Kittredge (Washington) threw 4.1 innings and gave up six hits and two runs. Lefty Kenny Long (Illinois St.) went one inning and struck out two batters without giving up a hit, and Burny Mitchem (Dayton) got two outs in the bottom of the sixth to earn the win (1-0). ACC Rookie of the Year Marcus Stroman (Duke) pitched a dominant final three innings for Orleans. The 5-9 righty allowed just one baserunner, on a single in the ninth, while striking out two.

Stroman wasn't the only defensive highlight for the Firebirds. Doyle got the start at shortstop, and made a diving over-the-head catch running straight backwards on a popup in the bottom of the sixth. Esposito made a few web gems of his own charging bunts and throwing off-balance across the diamond, and had the play of the night in the bottom of the seventh. On a sliced foul ball by Medrano, Esposito ranged from third base across his team's bullpen down the line, and made a spectacular shoestring catch as he slid with his back to home plate and his glove outstretched.

Esposito was the star at the plate, too. He finished 4-for-5 with the homer and 3 RBI. The Muno brothers combined to go 8-for-12 with three runs and one RBI from the top two spots in the order. Kolten Wong (Hawai'i) and Roe both played second base and both left the game with injuries, but combined for a 5-for-5 day at the plate. Eight different Firebirds had hits, and five had multiple hits.

The Firebirds improve to 6-6, and will host the Bourne Braves for a Sunday double-header with games at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Orleans swept its home double-header and the regular season series with Bourne last summer, but was eliminated by the Braves in the semifinals of the playoffs.

Falmouth falls to 6-6 and will have a double-header at YD with games at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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Home Firebirds News Game Day Central Roster Statistics Coaching Staff Sounds of the Game Clinics Volunteer Alumni Contact	Firebirds Explode for 20 Hits in 8-2 Win over Commodores June 26, 2010 By Tyler Maland Falmouth, Mass. -Several cases of individual brilliance will be overshadowed by another story Saturday night, and for good reason. The Orleans Firebirds whopped 20 hits, more than doubling their previous season-high of nine, in an 8-2 win over the Falmouth Commodores at Arnie Allen Diamond Saturday night in Falmouth. Orleans was off to a disheartening start, getting two hits in each of the first three innings but plating no runs because of poor bunting. The Firebirds had their lead runner forced out on a bunt attempt in the first and second inning, and had Danny Muno (Fresno St.) tagged out between third and home in the third inning after a failed squeeze attempt. Falmouth scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Nick Martini (Kansas St.) in the bottom of the third. Despite the inefficency, Orleans kept hitting. Jason Esposito (Vanderbilt) led off the top of the fourth with a solo homer to left field, his first of the year, to tie the game. In the fifth, Danny Muno singled in his older brother Kevin Muno (San Diego) to make it 2-1, one of three singles in the fifth. Falmouth once again answered the challenge, plating a run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double by Kevin Medrano (Missouri St.). Falmouth starter Mark Pope (Georgia Tech), who entered the game with no earned runs in 13 innings pitched, did a remarkable job of limiting his runs allowed. In six full innings, Pope allowed 11 hits, six of which were singles straight back up the middle, but just two earned runs. When Commodores reliever Douglas Simmons (Rice) started the seventh, the floodgates opened. Simmons started his outing by coaxing a fly-out to center by Kevin Muno, but the next six Firebirds reached base on two singles and a walk to load the bases, an RBI walk by Will Piwnica-Worms (Duke), an RBI single by Esposito, and an RBI hit-by-pitch by Mick Doyle (Notre Dame). Jared Hippen (Iowa) entered the game for the rattled Simmons, but Joe Loftus (Vanderbilt) hit a sac fly to right on the first pitch he saw to make the score 6-2 before Hippen finally got out of the inning. Unsatisfied with its four-run seventh, the Firebirds scored two more runs off of Hippen in the eighth. Danny Muno and Shon Roe (Loyola Marymount) knocked singles, and Steve Selsky (Arizona) hit an RBI double to left and Esposito another RBI single to make it 8-2. Meanwhile, the Orleans pitching staff got stronger as the day went on. Starter Andrew Kittredge (Washington) threw 4.1 innings and gave up six hits and two runs. Lefty Kenny Long (Illinois St.) went one inning and struck out two batters without giving up a hit, and Burny Mitchem (Dayton) got two outs in the bottom of the sixth to earn the win (1-0). ACC Rookie of the Year Marcus Stroman (Duke) pitched a dominant final three innings for Orleans. The 5-9 righty allowed just one baserunner, on a single in the ninth, while striking out two. Stroman wasn't the only defensive highlight for the Firebirds. Doyle got the start at shortstop, and made a diving over-the-head catch running straight backwards on a popup in the bottom of the sixth. Esposito made a few web gems of his own charging bunts and throwing off-balance across the diamond, and had the play of the night in the bottom of the seventh. On a sliced foul ball by Medrano, Esposito ranged from third base across his team's bullpen down the line, and made a spectacular shoestring catch as he slid with his back to home plate and his glove outstretched. Esposito was the star at the plate, too. He finished 4-for-5 with the homer and 3 RBI. The Muno brothers combined to go 8-for-12 with three runs and one RBI from the top two spots in the order. Kolten Wong (Hawai'i) and Roe both played second base and both left the game with injuries, but combined for a 5-for-5 day at the plate. Eight different Firebirds had hits, and five had multiple hits. The Firebirds improve to 6-6, and will host the Bourne Braves for a Sunday double-header with games at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Orleans swept its home double-header and the regular season series with Bourne last summer, but was eliminated by the Braves in the semifinals of the playoffs. Falmouth falls to 6-6 and will have a double-header at YD with games at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Box Score) VIDEO: View the Muno brothers' thoughts, and jokes, after their offensive outburst.