Gulls Fall to SteepleCats, 7-1
June 25, 2014 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I.-Coming off a 5-1 victory over the New Bedford Bay Sox on Tuesday, the Gulls were determined to continue a three-game winning streak against the North Adams SteepleCats on Wednesday. Despite playing in front of 1,902 fans at Cardines Field, the SteepleCats combined to get 11 hits, handing the Gulls their first loss at home in 2014 with a final score of 7-1.
For the third straight game, the Gulls were the first team to get on the scoreboard. After Will Smith reached on an error by shortstop (and Louisville teammate) Zach Lucas, outfielder Ben Roberts advanced him on a single to right. Ultimately, Tanner Donnels got the Gulls on the board, lacing an RBI single to drive in Smith to give the Gulls a 1-0 lead.
Getting the start for the Gulls was southpaw Chandler Hawkins, who made his Cardines Field debut on Wednesday. In three innings of work, the senior from Arkansas State allowed three runs on six hits, striking out three batters.
However, despite three shutout innings to start the game, Hawkins ran into trouble in the top of the fourth. Hawkins allowed a leadoff walk to Anthony Papio and a blistering single to Edgar Michelangeli. SteepleCats third baseman Todd Juliano continued the rally with a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Eventually, the SteepleCats jumped on the scoreboard when Kyle Richardson drove home Papio and Michelangeli on a two-run triple. Richardson ultimately scored when Vinny Siena grounded out to shortstop Tommy Edman. Even though Hawkins was able to strike out Vladimir Gomez to end the inning, the SteepleCats built up a 3-1 lead.
The SteepleCats continued to build on their lead in the fifth. Hawkins allowed a leadoff double to Thomas Delph, then allowed the Steeplecats's fourth run to come home on an RBI single by Lucas.
After Hawkins struck out Anthony Papio, Gulls managerMike Coombs decided to make a pitching change, bringing Johnathon Tripp into the game. Tripp, who just arrived in Newport on Tuesday after pitching for Texas Tech in the College World Series, struck out Michelangeli, and Smith threw out Lucas on a stolen base attempt to end the inning. When the dust settled, the SteepleCats led the Gulls, 4-1.
In the fifth, the Gulls had a major opportunity to mount a comeback against the SteepleCats. With North Adams starter Shaefer Shepard on the hill, Edman singled, while Roberts worked a walk, setting up Donnels for a ground out that moved both runners into scoring position. On his 21st birthday, Blaise Salter came up to bat with Edman at third and Roberts at second. However, a nice defensive play by Juliano ended the jam, with the SteepleCats still leading the Gulls, 4-1.
Another major run-scoring chance emerged in the sixth, which came at the tail end of Shepard's start. Despite a leadoff fly out by Nick Zammarelli, infielder Colby Wright reached on an infield single, and moved up to second after Ryan Tufts was hit by a fastball by Shepard. After Anthony Lyons flew out to left, Tufts lined a shot to center, but it was caught by Richardson to end the inning.
After 2 2/3 hitless innings in relief by Tripp, lefty Mark McCoy began his seventh appearance of the summer in the eighth inning. On the first pitch of his outing, Lucas lined a solo home run over the wall in right center, upping the SteepleCats lead to 5-1. Papio followed that up with a double to the gap in left-center, while Michelangeli launched a long single off the right field fence. With runners on the corners, Coombs decided to make the pitching change, bringing Eric Stone into the game. Stone escaped his inherited jam with ease; he forced a popout from Juliano and caused Richardson to ground into a double play to end the inning.
The Gulls attempted to stage another comeback in the bottom of the eighth. After walks to Salter and pinch-hitter Tyler Green, the SteepleCats turned to new reliever Johnathon Mulford to escape the jam. On the first pitch of Mulford's relief outing, Green was picked off at first base on a rocket throw from catcher Michael Hernandez. Mulford proceeded to strike out Wright and pinch-hitter Jose Vizcaino Jr. to end the inning. Despite a threat from the Gulls, the SteepleCats maintained a 5-1 lead into the ninth.
Layne Bruner came into the game for the ninth inning after a scoreless inning of relief from Stone. Bruner ran into trouble early; he hit Siena with a pitch, then he walked Hernandez to put two runners on with no outs. After a passed ball from Smith, Bruner walked Gomez.
With the bases loaded, Coombs decided to go to the bullpen for the sixth time in the game, giving the ball to reliever Jack Patterson. On a full count, Patterson allowed an RBI single to Delph. This was followed by an RBI groundout by Lucas to Edman, enabling Hernandez to score. Eventually, Delph was tagged out on a base-running miscue, keeping runners on the corners with two outs. Patterson then proceeded to strike out Matthew Schmidt, but the damage was done, with the SteepleCats leading 7-1.
In the bottom of the ninth, Mulford retired the Gulls in order, but after Smith and Edman launched loud outs to center field. With the loss, the Gulls snapped their two game losing streak, while also snapping their six-game home winning streak. Falling to 11-5 on the season, the Gulls now trail the Plymouth Pilgrims by a =C21/2 a game in the NECBL South.
The Gulls return to action on Friday, when they host the Ocean State Waves at Cardines Field. Brett Hanewich (0-0, 3.38 ERA) will get the start for the Gulls in his second start of the season.
This is the first time the Waves make the trip across the Pell Bridge in 2014, as Nick Lima and Waves broadcasterTristan Hobbes will cover the action on the NECBL Broadcast Network. Gates open at 5, while first pitch will commence at 6:35.
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