Braves Strand Nine Runners, Lose 1-0 in Home Opener

The Bourne Braves began Tuesday night with a reminder of the success they experienced so recently: their 2022 championship. As large swarms of fans gathered for the home opener of the 2023 season at Doran Park, a collection of radio highlights from last year’s magical summer was played over the loudspeaker. The Braves’ four returning members participated in the first-pitch activities, and they got off and running on the first of many home games here this summer.

But despite the return home, and the exciting vibes in the ballpark, they couldn’t garner enough fuel to pull out a win. They got shut out in front of 2,319 fans, losing a tight 1-0 game to the undefeated Cotuit Kettleers. They collected seven hits and four walks but couldn’t come through in the clutch. They left nine runners on base and hit into two double plays, which continued a frustrating early-season trend.

“I mean, I’m a broken record,” Braves manager Scott Landers said. “Four straight days we haven’t hit with runners in scoring position. We’re getting our chances more than the opponent every night out; we just don’t make it happen. That’s what we gotta clean up. And until that happens, we’re gonna keep losing.”

Bourne starter Patrick Reilly hit a batter in each of the first two innings, and each time, the runner stole second. It cost him in the second inning, as Jay Harry smacked an RBI single to give Cotuit an early 1-0 lead. That turned out to be the only run in the game.

Cotuit center fielder Rodney Green Jr. covered a ton of ground in the outfield, making back-to-back web gems in the bottom of the second. The Braves drew a pair of two-out baserunners but couldn’t get them in.

Reilly surrendered back-to-back hits from Cotuit’s No. 2 and 3 hitters in the third, both of which came on miscues — something Landers has been professing this team needs to avoid. Brett Bateman beat Reilly to first base for an infield hit, and Tanner Thach hit one just out of the mitt of right fielder Pete Ciuffreda. Reilly stayed composed, inducing a tailor-made 6-4-3 double play to avoid any damage.

“He was gritty. He sticked to his game plan,” Landers said. “I thought he got better as the game went on. He got more feel for the strike zone. Early, he was just missing spots by a lot. He was hitting guys and throwing balls to the wrong side of the dish, but he grinded through that.”

Bourne’s own No. 2 and 3 hitters — Paul Tammaro III and Garrett Michel — responded with back-to-back hits of their own in the bottom half, and they even pulled off a double steal. But the Braves’ struggles with runners in scoring position continued. Kodey Shojinaga and Andrew Patrick struck out and stranded the potential go-ahead runs on second and third.

“Big-time players step up when the lights go on,” Landers said. “Those [situations with RISP] are points during the game where the lights are on, and they gotta have an approach and be aggressive. We just can’t strike out. We’re striking out with too many guys on.”

Ciuffreda collected his second hit of the game, but was picked off to end the fourth. It was another example of Bourne just not playing its cleanest baseball yet this summer.

On the pitching side, Reilly settled in to keep the deficit at 1-0. He retired the last seven batters he faced, and was the first Braves starting pitcher to complete five innings this summer. He struck out four, allowed three hits and didn’t issue a walk in his outing.

“After the first two innings, I got into a little bit of a groove there and found my rhythm, which definitely led to some cleaner innings,” Reilly said. “Would have liked to hold runners better. Would have liked to eliminate those two hit by pitches. But I think I did what I was hoping to do.”

Kade Grundy, a member of last year’s champions, made his first appearance of the summer out of the bullpen. He pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Reilly. He also recorded an impressive pickoff in the seventh.

But the Braves just kept leaving runners on. Joey Loynd hit into a double play that ended the sixth inning, following a Shojinaga double. They loaded the bases with two outs an inning later, but Michel — who’s been seeing the ball well — grounded out to second.

Gabe Driscoll and Doug Kirkland each pitched a scoreless inning for Bourne, capping off a strong pitching effort overall from the defending champions. The pitchers did everything they could to give their hitters a chance to stage a comeback.

“The guys came in and did exactly what they were supposed to do,” Landers said. “They held us right where we wanted to be, and we just couldn’t produce offensively.”

Cameron Foster led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, which got the fans to their loudest energy level all night. Another double play quickly dissipated that energy. Hugh Pinkney, in the game as a replacement for fellow catcher Evin Sullivan, made the final out as the Braves fell meekly into the night.

“At the end of the day, we let up one run on four hits. We should win the game,” Landers said.

The Braves, now 0-3-1 this season, will look to get their bats going Wednesday on the road against the Harwich Mariners at 6:30 p.m.