If you’ve been following the Cape Cod Baseball League this season, you know the Harwich Mariners are just crushing the ball.
On the biggest stage yet, we shouldn’t have expected anything different.
Hosting first-place Orleans last night in the biggest marquee match-up of 2012, the Mariners hit four home runs in one inning on their way to a 5-3 victory over the Firebirds. It was their eighth straight win, it snapped the Firebirds’ eight-game winning streak and it moved Harwich into a first place tie.
In a season full of impressive showings, this one may have been the best for the Mariners.
I was watching the Harwich broadcast online and just shook my head when Philip Ervin (Samford) homered on a 1-2 pitch to lead off the fourth inning. He’s been ridiculous — seven home runs in 12 games. Seven is the number that won the Cape League home run title the last two years. And Ervin is there in about one-third of the season.
But that was only the beginning. After an out, Austin Wilson (Stanford) smacked a home run. Then Brian Ragira (Stanford) belted one on the very next pitch. Austen Smith (Alabama) followed with another home run.
A 2-0 deficit was now a 4-2 lead — and a season of long balls had its signature moment.
I don’t remember four home runs in an inning. I don’t remember one player hitting seven in the first two weeks of the season. I don’t remember a team averaging two home runs per game.
In short, Harwich may be the most powerful team we’ve seen on the Cape in a very long time.
And the Mariners are winning, too. Armed with the lead, the bullpen didn’t allow another earned run over the final five innings. Anthony Tzamtzis (North Carolina State) struck out the side in the seventh and C.K. Irby (Samford) did the same in the ninth to clinch the victory. That’s eight in a row, and Harwich’s only losses of the season have been to Orleans and Falmouth.
Wilson and Ragira each had two hits for the Mariners. Matt Reida (Kentucky) knocked in the only run that didn’t come via the home run.
For Orleans, Daniel Aldrich (College of Charleston) had a home run and a double.
In the midst of getting carried away with the Harwich love, we can’t forget that Orleans has the same record as Harwich, beat the Mariners in their first meeting and looks like a great team in its own right. It was a true showdown last night. I can’t wait for the next one.
Pitching In
Aaron Blair (Marshall) has won the first two Cape League Pitcher of the Week awards, in part because starters haven’t been turning in the best outings. But it’s also because Blair has been great.
And he may just win that honor again.
The Y-D righty struck out 10 and allowed one run on six hits in seven innings as the Red Sox beat Brewster 7-3 last night. Blair now leads the league in wins (3), strikeouts (25) and ERA among starters (0.50).
Blair was a late addition to the Y-D roster, but he has an impressive profile. He was a 21st-round pick out of high school in 2010 and he struck out nearly a batter an inning for Marshall this spring.
And now he’s turning into the best starting pitcher on the Cape.
Y-D’s victory snapped a three-game Brewster winning streak and got the Red Sox back to .500. Sam Travis (Indiana) went 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead the offense.
Elsewhere
What to Watch
Another good match-up in the East as Orleans visits Y-D at 5 p.m. Stony Brook star Brandon McNitt is scheduled to make his Cape League debut as he gets the ball for the Firebirds. Rick Knapp (Florida Gulf Coast), who has a 0.90 ERA in two starts, is slated to go for Y-D.
And in case anyone has any doubt about the Mariners’ offensive fire-power, their relief pitcher who clinched the win over powerful Orleans by striking out the side in the ninth, CK Irby (Samford teammate of home run leader Phil Ervin) hit a solo home run of his own in an at-bat in Y-D on Wednesday!!! Also, Colin Moran’s home run in Bourne last night was very impressive in that it wrapped around the left field foul pole in a nice display of opposite-field power for the Tar Heels slugger.
One of the most amazing things about the Mariners’ 26 home runs is that 12 different players have contributed to the total. Thanks for all the great information, Will!
Wow, that is amazing.