Orleans Firebirds

Firebirds Blanked by Mets

July 8, 2009

By Tyler Maland

Orleans, Mass. – The Orleans Firebirds ran into the arms of Austin Hudson (Central Florida) and Dallas Gallant (Sam Houston) Wednesday night, and were dealt a 3-0 loss by the Hyannis Mets, who snapped a four game losing streak. Hudson, who led the Cape League in ERA in 2008, pitched six shutout innings, allowing just three hits without walking a batter and striking out three.

Orleans, which had a big game against league rival Yarmouth-Dennis rained out Tuesday night, moves to 10-9 and is currently third in the east behind Y-D and Chatham. The Firebirds have an off-day Thursday, and will travel to Harwich for a 7:00 pm contest Friday night. Hyannis is now 7-11-1, and will be in Harwich on Thursday for a 7:00 pm game of its own.

Firebirds starter Cole Cook (Pepperdine), who entered the game with a 2.95 ERA in three starts, was not his normal self. Cook struggled with his control early, and the patient Mets hitters were able to connect with his fastball when he put it in the zone. The Mets put their leadoff hitter on base in each of the first four innings, and drove that runner in on an RBI hit in three of those four innings. After a stellar 73-pitch eight inning performance in his last start, Cook threw 19 and 17 pitches in the first two innings and ended with 66 pitches in four innings, allowing six hits, three earned runs and one walk while striking out two.

Jorge Reyes (Oregon State), who was scheduled to start Wednesday night’s start against Y-D, was proficient in relief for the Firebirds. Reyes started the fifth inning and pitched four innings, allowing just one runner to reach base on an error. He struck out four in the nearly perfect effort. Matt Hiserman (San Francisco) pitched a perfect ninth for Orleans to cap off an impressive showing by the bullpen, but the Firebirds bats were never able to get on track.

Hudson improved to 3-1 on the season, and his ERA now stands at 2.80. Gallant came in and pitched three innings of scoreless relief, picking up his first save on the season while giving up two hits and striking out eight of the nine batters he retired.

Gary Brown (CS Fullerton) and Danny Muno (Fresno State) were the lone bright spots on the offensive end for Orleans, combining for four of the Firebirds’ five hits. Brown singled and doubled in his first two at-bats, but was left at third each time. He finished 2-for-4 and stole his fourth base of the season. Muno was 2-for-3 on the night with two singles up the middle, but never even made it to second base.

The Mets were led by Dan Burkhart (Ohio State), who was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Cody Hawn (Tennessee), Jackie Bradley, Jr. (South Carolina), and Trent Whitehead (East Carolina) had the three RBI hits for Hyannis.

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Home Firebirds News Game Day Central Roster Statistics Coaching Staff Sounds of the Game Clinics Volunteer Alumni Contact	Firebirds Blanked by Mets July 8, 2009 By Tyler Maland Orleans, Mass. – The Orleans Firebirds ran into the arms of Austin Hudson (Central Florida) and Dallas Gallant (Sam Houston) Wednesday night, and were dealt a 3-0 loss by the Hyannis Mets, who snapped a four game losing streak. Hudson, who led the Cape League in ERA in 2008, pitched six shutout innings, allowing just three hits without walking a batter and striking out three. Orleans, which had a big game against league rival Yarmouth-Dennis rained out Tuesday night, moves to 10-9 and is currently third in the east behind Y-D and Chatham. The Firebirds have an off-day Thursday, and will travel to Harwich for a 7:00 pm contest Friday night. Hyannis is now 7-11-1, and will be in Harwich on Thursday for a 7:00 pm game of its own. Firebirds starter Cole Cook (Pepperdine), who entered the game with a 2.95 ERA in three starts, was not his normal self. Cook struggled with his control early, and the patient Mets hitters were able to connect with his fastball when he put it in the zone. The Mets put their leadoff hitter on base in each of the first four innings, and drove that runner in on an RBI hit in three of those four innings. After a stellar 73-pitch eight inning performance in his last start, Cook threw 19 and 17 pitches in the first two innings and ended with 66 pitches in four innings, allowing six hits, three earned runs and one walk while striking out two. Jorge Reyes (Oregon State), who was scheduled to start Wednesday night’s start against Y-D, was proficient in relief for the Firebirds. Reyes started the fifth inning and pitched four innings, allowing just one runner to reach base on an error. He struck out four in the nearly perfect effort. Matt Hiserman (San Francisco) pitched a perfect ninth for Orleans to cap off an impressive showing by the bullpen, but the Firebirds bats were never able to get on track. Hudson improved to 3-1 on the season, and his ERA now stands at 2.80. Gallant came in and pitched three innings of scoreless relief, picking up his first save on the season while giving up two hits and striking out eight of the nine batters he retired. Gary Brown (CS Fullerton) and Danny Muno (Fresno State) were the lone bright spots on the offensive end for Orleans, combining for four of the Firebirds’ five hits. Brown singled and doubled in his first two at-bats, but was left at third each time. He finished 2-for-4 and stole his fourth base of the season. Muno was 2-for-3 on the night with two singles up the middle, but never even made it to second base. The Mets were led by Dan Burkhart (Ohio State), who was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Cody Hawn (Tennessee), Jackie Bradley, Jr. (South Carolina), and Trent Whitehead (East Carolina) had the three RBI hits for Hyannis. (Unofficial Box Score)