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Firebirds Hold Off Mariners 3-2
July 12, 2010
By Tyler Maland
A solid start from Ryan Carpenter (Gonzaga) was in jeopardy in the final frame, as the heart of Harwich's order loaded the bases against closer Marcus Stroman (Duke) on two walks and a hit-by-pitch. But after going ahead in the count 0-2 and watching John Wooten (East Carolina) foul off two straight pitches, Stroman reared back and threw a 96 mile-per-hour heater past the swinging Wooten to end the game and leave all three runners on base.
After a pitchers' duel between Carpenter and Mariners starter Greg Peavey (Oregon St.) highlighted the first four innings, Orleans finally struck in the fifth. Jayce Boyd (Florida St.) led off with a single through the right side. Two batters later, Steve Selsky (Arizona) drove a 2-0 Peavey fastball to the right center gap for an RBI double. Preston Tucker (Florida) followed with a hard-hit infield single up the middle, and a walk of Will Piwnica-Worms (Duke) loaded the bases. Matt Koch (Loyola Marymount) hit a screaming single to left field to score Selsky, and a throwing error on the play by Harwich left fielder Ronnie Richardson (Central Florida) plated Tucker as well. Peavey got the next two hitters on a groundout and a fly out to avoid further damage, but three runs were all the Firebirds would need.
Harwich got two of its runs back quickly in the sixth when Wooten and Taylor Motter (Coastal Carolina) both singled and scored on a deep double to left-center by Tyler Pill (CS Fullerton). Carpenter gave up another single, a bloop into center by Levi Michael (UNC), who promptly took advantage of a throwing error to take second base and put two runners in scoring position with one out.
Michael's single ended the night for Carpenter, but marked the starting point for the Firebirds' bullpen to take over the game. Left-hander Jack Leathersich (UMASS-Lowell) replaced Carpenter and got out of the jam unscathed with a strikeout of lefty slugger Pratt Maynard (NC State) and ground out from Steven Proscia (Virginia).
Matt Ramsey (Tennessee) got the last out of the sixth and 1-2-3 seventh and eighth innings for Harwich, striking out three and putting the pressure on the Orleans bullpen to preserve its thin lead.
Leathersich, Will Clinard (Vanderbilt), Mitchell Lambson (Arizona St.) and Stroman were more than ready for the challenge. Clinard (pictured right) took over in the seventh and retired the Mariners in order with just seven pitches. Lambson was assigned the eighth, and was just as impressive - an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts. The shaggy-haired lefty attacked the Mariners' hitters with a low-90s fastball, a hooking curve and deceptive changeup. It was Lambson's third appearance and fourth inning pitched of the season, and he has yet to allow anyone on base.
Lambson gave way to Stroman in the ninth, and the 5-9 power righty - despite a bit of drama - did exactly what he has done all season. Stroman picked up his third save of the year, and has now thrown 16 2/3 innings this summer without allowing any runs. His two walks swelled his season total to three, but Stroman still maintains a 18-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Koch was 1-for-3 with the go-ahead single, and was the battery-mate for all five Firebirds pitchers. Boyd was 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Selsky was 1-for-2 with a walk, a run, and an RBI to bring his team-leading total to 12.
Carpenter got his first win of the year (1-0), and threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out four.
Michael went 2-for-4 for the Mariners, who came in the winners of four straight games. Peavey tossed 5 2/3 innings and gave up five hits, three runs and three walks while striking out three.
The win moves Orleans to 11-14, one game behind Harwich for the fourth spot in the East Division. The Firebirds are just 4-9 at Eldredge Park this season, and will travel to South Yarmouth for a 5:00 p.m. matchup against the YD Red Sox Tuesday afternoon. Harwich is now 12-13, and will host the Hyannis Harbor Hawks on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
View Ryan Carpenter's Post-Game Interview