Home Runs Hand Cardinals Loss
July 31, 2008
Orleans, Mass. – Two home runs and five innings of baseball led to a loss for the Orleans Cardinals in a fog-shortened affair. The 3-1 decision was the first time the Cards had lost a game by more than a run since July 2nd, a span covering 21 games.
Wareham’s OF Kipp Schutz (Indiana) hit an opposite field solo blast in the fourth to break a scoreless tie. C Cole Leonida (Georgia Tech) followed later in the frame with another opposite field homer, this one of the two-run variety to make it a 3-0 game.
Orleans would threaten, along with the fog, in the fifth. Four consecutive singles to lead off the inning loaded up the bases and made it a 3-1 game. Wareham made a pitching change and RHP Jimmy Saris (Georgetown) sent down three straight Cardinals to end the threat.
Two hitters into the top of the sixth, a fly ball gave OF Alex Hassan (Duke) trouble and the game was delayed. After a 44 minute delay, the contest was declared final and Wareham walked away with a 3-1 victory.
Orleans 2B Matt Bowman (Nevada) singled in C Hampton Tignor (Florida) for the only run of the game. The runs allowed by Cardinals starter RHP Kyle Smith (Kent State) snapped a 17-inning scoreless streak that dated back to July 7th.
The loss ends a remarkable month of July for the Cardinals in which they posted a 17-5-2 record. It was the best mark in the league. The consecutive losses suffered by Orleans is the first time the team has dropped back-to-back games since June 28th and 29th when they lost at Bourne in another fog-shortened game and to Yarmouth-Dennis.
The Cardinals have a 10 point lead over second place Harwich in the Eastern Division. Orleans will return to the field tomorrow to host the Chatham Athletics. A win will punch the Cardinals’ ticket to the post-season. First pitch will take place from Eldredge Park at 7:00pm EDT and broadcasted live on the Orleans Cardinals Baseball Network.
(Unofficial Box Score)
|
