Bravos falter in Brewster doubleheader, plate just two runs in pair of losses

The Bravos plated just two runs on six hits on Sunday in a doubleheader against Brewster, losing 6-1 and 3-1.

Bravos falter in Brewster doubleheader, plate just two runs in pair of losses

By Mac Friday

(Photo: Braden Reed/Bourne Braves)

On a hot day in the Brewster sunshine, the Bourne Braves took the diamond Stony Brook Field, eager to get back in the win column after a tie full of missed opportunities on Saturday against Hyannis. However, the Braves’ woes continued, only scoring two runs on six hits, losing both contests to the Brewster Whitecaps on Sunday.

Game 1:

Right-hander Hunter Loyd took the mound for his final start as a Bourne Brave before he shut down for the summer, eager to add another win on the Braves’ record after the team’s victory over the Whitecaps on Opening Day just a few weeks ago.

Loyd tossed a scoreless first but encountered serious trouble in the second and beyond. In the second with two outs, Loyd permitted four consecutive singles for a pair of runs to give Brewster a 2-0 lead. In the third, the Whitecaps continued to do damage, as another two runs scored via back-to-back singles which were brought home with a sacrifice fly and RBI single later in the frame.

“He had a tougher outing,” Braves manager Scott Landers said of Loyd. “He was great for us in his first couple of outings, but today it just didn’t go his way. He didn’t have much command of his stuff and Brewster made him pay.”

The Whitecaps continued the bullying with a pair of runs against right-handed reliever Mason Pelio, who allowed a double, walk and another double on which both runners scored due to a throwing error from third baseman Wyatt Henseler, which flew past the glove of second baseman Matt Shaw into the outfield.

Pelio and right-hander Cameron Bye managed to lock down the rest of the contest, only allowing one hit in the final two innings, but it was too late.

The Braves scored only one run in the first contest, as a single from the red-hot Shaw brought him to first. Shaw stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before an RBI double from center fielder Jack Hurley brought him home.

The Braves lost 6-1.

Game 2:

The second game was much of the same against the Whitecaps, even with Bourne’s best starter on the season, righty Ryan Fischer, toeing the rubber. Fischer cruised through the first two innings, only allowing two baserunners via single and walk. In the third, Fischer finally looked human, allowing a leadoff walk to left fielder Javier Vaz, who then scored on a two-run mammoth home run blast by shortstop and CCBL home run leader Alex Freeland. Second baseman Davis Diaz immediately followed up with a solo shot of his own for back-to-back Whitecaps jacks.

“He did well through the first few innings but made a couple mistakes,” Landers said. “The second home run was a botched call between us and the battery, but with the first one he allowed a walk and left a slider over the middle of the plate and that can’t be there.”

“Both of those pitches missed their spots,” Fischer reflected. “Overall those pitches just got away from me and they capitalized. I was supposed to hit the outside corner on one of them and on the other one It was just hanging.”

Designated hitter Chris Brito hit his second home run of the season, a missile over the left-field scoreboard, but that would prove to be the only Bravos run of the evening.

The Braves wouldn’t let in another run across the rest of the contest thanks to solid work from right-hander Ty Cummings.

Overall, the Braves looked lost in the batter’s box, quickly falling behind in counts and failing to stay consistent battling deep into counts. They looked rushed as they fell 3-1.

“We just have to be better with two strikes,” outfielder Jack Duffy said. “We can’t miss our pitches either and that’s really the biggest thing. We barreled some up in the second game, but couldn’t find any grass.”

“You have to have an approach to what you’re doing,” Landers reflected. “You always have to have an approach. You can’t just be winging it in the batter’s box with free swings. That’s not the answer. You have to have a plan, stick with it and if it works, stay with it. If it doesn’t, change it and we haven’t done that. We haven’t had the ability at the plate to do that in the last two days.”

The Bravos return to Doran Park for another matchup with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks after an off day on Monday. The contest, starting at 6:00 p.m., is the first of seven straight games for the Bravos.