Bullpen falters as Braves fall to Hyannis

By: Zach Pekale

For the second time in three games, the Bourne Braves were unable to maintain a late lead.

After errors played in a part in a loss to Orleans on Sunday, the late-game jitters returned as the Hyannis Harbor Hawks scored four runs in the sixth inning to come away with a 6-4 win over Bourne.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, pinch-hitter Seth Gray (Wright State) laced a two-out double off of reliever Nick Morreale (Georgetown) to score the go-ahead run as well as inusrance for the Harbor Hawks.

With the result, the Braves were unable to sustain their offensive productivity throughout the game as they got off to another fast start on Tuesday.

Back in the lineup after starting the first 18 games of the year, Spencer Brickhouse (East Carolina) opened the scoring with an RBI double followed by a two-run single from Lyle Lin (Arizona State).

“I went through the whole school season, played every game. It was good to be able to watch the game,” Brickhouse said. “I was very aggressive. A lot of these pitchers are trying to throw strikes. You just have to go out there swinging and try to put good wood on it.”

Expect the Unexpected

After starting just twice out of 22 appearances in the past spring and spending much of the summer in the Braves’ bullpen, Trey Van Der Weide (South Carolina Upstate) was called upon to make a spot start.

In five plus innings, the southpaw gave up two earned runs on three hits and one walk, throwing 68 pitches for the outing.

It was his first start since April 14.

“He [Harvey Shapiro] told me about two days ago to try to keep the same routine I’ve had. Be ready for every single day,” Van Der Weide said of the decision. “I just tried to get locked in and keep my pitch count down.”

Coming Up: The Braves are off on the Fourth of July and will resume play on Thursday when they take on the Wareham Gatemen at Doran Park.