Five-run eighth gives Braves back-to-back wins over Harbor Hawks

By: Nick Galle 

Bourne is no stranger to late-game heroics against the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Back on Opening Day, late-game home runs from Dalton Rushing and Braylen Wimmer propelled the Bravos to their first win of the season. On Tuesday night, Wimmer saved his best for the eighth inning yet again, but this time it led to win number 13 of the season.

The Bravos were held scoreless for seven innings, but two walks and a base hit loaded the bases in the top of the eighth as Wimmer stepped into the right-side batter’s box. The South Carolina Gamecock laced a pitch between the third baseman and shortstop to bring in a pair, and Bourne would go on to put together a five-run inning.

“Obviously when there’s runners on base, you want to get them in early,” Wimmer said. “So when there’s a pitch that’s over the plate, I try to put the barrel on it, and I’ve been able to do that so far.”

Jake Bennett logged a solid outing on the bump, as he went five innings, gave up just four hits, one run, and struck out five. It was his third start of the season, but his first in which he went over four innings.

“I just tried to fill up the zone, let my defense work behind me and I thought I did a decent job of that,” Bennett said.

Thanks to his four scoreless innings of relief, Cole Chudoba earned his second win of the season. He gave up just two hits and struck out two.

“It always helps when we score some runs, it gives me confidence,” Chudoba said. “I just got to throw strikes. That’s my strong suit as a pitcher. Especially getting a lead, you just got to go out there and throw strikes. I mean obviously not a lot of strikeouts tonight, but you know, put the ball in play and that’s what happens, you get outs. So that’s what was working for me tonight.”

Cayden Wallace extended his hit streak to five games and went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Wimmer went 1-for-4 with the two-RBI base hit, Nick Goodwin went 1-for-4 with one RBI and Josh Moylan went 1-for-4 with a single.

The Braves will cap off their three-game series against the Harbor Hawks tomorrow night at 6 p.m. back at Doran Park. Hyannis has now lost nine straight games, while Bourne has won back-to-back games following its loss against Chatham Sunday night.

Cover photo via: Joe Sullivan