Loss Eliminates Cardinals From Playoff Contention
The Cards fall 2-1 to Harwich tonight and are knocked out of the playoff picture
August 5, 2007
By: Brett Brecheisen - Orleans Cardinals
Intern
Harwich, Massachusetts – Poor execution on a run-down, eight runners left on base, sixteen strikeouts, and bad umpiring could all be used as excuses for why the Cardinals could not win tonight. Regardless of why Harwich topped Orleans 2-1 this evening, the Cardinals are now mathematically eliminated from reaching a playoff spot for the second consecutive summer.
The Mariners scored their first run of the game on quite a bizarre play in the second. After Harwich 3B Chris Dominguez (Louisville) reached on a fielder’s choice, 1B Jared Bolden (VCU) followed him with a single. The single sent Dominguez to third when Orleans SS Brandon Crawford (UCLA) cut off a throw to third and caught Bolden in a run-down between first and second. Crawford fired the ball to 1B Nate Freiman (Duke) as he and 2B Alden Carrithers (UCLA) tried to chase Bolden down. Dominguez alertly broke for home and the throw from Carrithers was not in time as Harwich jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
Orleans battled back to tie the game in the fourth. Back-to-back singles by Freiman and LF Chase d’Arnaud (Pepperdine) and a walk drawn by Crawford loaded the bases with nobody out. 3B Mark Sobolewski (Miami, FL) struck out for the first out but DH Jose Jimenez (Tampa) put a ball in play to the right side that scored Freiman and tied the game at one.
With two outs and the speedy d’Arnaud at third, the Cardinals took a chance that wound up backfiring. D’Arnaud attempted a straight steal of home on the first pitch off of Harwich starter LHP Corey Young (Seton Hall). The throw beat d’Arnaud to the plate but he appeared to slide in under the tag. The home plate umpire disagreed and called d’Arnaud out as the Cardinals bench erupted in frustration. After a lengthy discussion with Manager Kelly Nicholson and both Orleans base coaches, the staff headed back to the dugout quite upset and in a tie game.
The tie would continue into the eighth inning with the outstanding LHP Rob Catapano (UNC) on the mound for Orleans. Catapano had pitched 17.2 innings this summer without allowing a run. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, his scoreless streak ended at a bad time. Harwich SS Cole Figueroa (Florida) hit a one-out single that started things off. RF Steve Strausbaugh (W. Carolina) drew a walk and DH J.T. Wise (LSU) was hit by a pitch to load the bases up with just one out. That’s when CF Anthony DiCesare (Northeastern) had the big hit Harwich was looking for when he singled in Figueroa to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead.
With LHP Evan Crawford (Auburn) and his 0.76 ERA on the bump for the Mariners in the ninth, things did not look good for an Orleans team that had to win in order to keep their playoff chances alive. Crawford had already pitched 1.1 innings going into the ninth and after retiring the first batter, he was relieved by RHP Brett Jacobson (Vanderbilt). It was the same Jacobson who struck out 15 Cardinals in just six innings last week in a game at Eldredge Park. He did not disappoint, striking out Sobolewski for the second out of the inning.
With the game and season on the line, it was up to Jimenez to keep the Cardinals alive. Jimenez did just that as he drew a walk and put the tying run on the bases. Kevin Muno (San Diego) came in to pinch run for the designated hitter and took no time to swipe second base to put himself into scoring position. Jacobson forced C Travis Tartamella (Pepperdine) to groundout, however, and the game ended.
Orleans struck out 16 times tonight and has now struck out 33 times in the last two games against Harwich, including their game last week that lasted just seven innings before being called due to fog. The strikeouts tonight put the season total for Orleans at 426 and sets a new team record for most strikeouts in a season.
LHP Craig Bennigson (California) was the starting pitcher for the Cards tonight and pitched one of his best performances this summer despite not earning a win. Bennigson topped the 100 pitch mark and struck out 10 Mariners while allowing just five hits and one run. With just two games left on the schedule, it is likely the last action the southpaw will see for Orleans this summer.
The loss ends any hope of the Cards jumping Chatham for second place in the Eastern Division. The Cardinals still, however, can take third in the division and finish above .500 for the third consecutive year under Nicholson. Orleans is tied with Brewster at 43 points for third place in the East. The Cards now sit at 21-20-1 overall with two games to play. With a win against Harwich on Tuesday night or Chatham on Wednesday night, the Cardinals will have their sixth consecutive winning season under their belts.
W – Evan Crawford (Auburn), 1-0
L – Rob Catapano (UNC), 3-1
SV – Brett Jacobson (Vanderbilt), 1
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