Unable To Hang On To Four Run Lead, Cards Lose To Falmouth
The Cardinals had a 4-0 lead after two innings but were held without a hit the rest of the game
July 21, 2007
By: Brett Brecheisen - Orleans Cardinals
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Falmouth, Massachusetts – It didn’t take long for the Cards to score four runs and pick up four quick hits. They did it all in just the first two innings and were cruising to yet another win. All of a sudden the bats fell silent, however, and the Falmouth bullpen cooled off the Cardinals hot hitting. Orleans would not have a hit after the second and Falmouth slowly chipped their way back into the game and onto a 6-4 win for the Commodores.
Another great start by LHP Craig Bennigson (California) was wasted as he again finished without a decision. The Cardinals left-hander was left off the roster for the Eastern Division All-Stars to much disappointment from Cardinals fans but certainly pitched well enough to earn a bid tonight. Bennigson was not overpowering, but certainly in control as he pitched six innings, allowing just three runs and leaving the game with a one-run lead. Struggling a little bit in the fifth, Bennigson gave up a two-out, two-run hit to Falmouth 2B David Adams (Virginia). The southpaw bounced back facing the next Commodore batter and with two outs and the tying run in scoring position, he picked up a ground ball to work himself out of the inning.
"It has to be frustrating for him. He threw the ball well enough to win and did his job tonight. He got us through six innings with a one-run lead," Manager Kelly Nicholson said.
The middle of the Cardinals lineup continued to drive in runs in the early part of tonight’s affair. RF Dennis Raben (Miami, FL) added to his league-lead with his 26th and 27th runs batted in. LF Nate Freiman (Duke) continued his solid hitting with an RBI-single in the first.
RHP Kyle Weiland (Notre Dame) entered in the fourth inning for the Commodores and there would not be another Cardinal hit the rest of the evening. Weiland tossed four innings while only putting one runner on base, courtesy of a walk. His performance earned him his first win of the summer.
With Orleans still leading 4-3, Bennigson was relieved by RHP Sam Brown (NC State). Brown certainly was not as sharp as we have seen him in the past. After retiring the first batter he faced, Brown then gave up two consecutive hits and then walked Falmouth lead-off man SS Joey Wong (Oregon State). A passed ball, two throwing errors on an attempted steal, and a ground ball later, Falmouth had a 5-4 lead. The Commodores would pick up one more in the seventh inning and with the Orleans bats struggling; the Cardinals were in trouble and went on to lose 6-4.
"We didn’t get a hit after the second inning. You have to give them credit for coming back. We threw the ball away in that one inning that they went ahead. Chase made a good play at the plate and we dropped the ball to give up a run. We made a play at first and didn’t get the call and gave up another run. We just got beat. You can’t do that and win ballgames," Coach Nicholson said.
The Cards, falling to fourth place in the Eastern Division, will return home tomorrow with a match-up pitting Orleans (16-15-0) against the Wareham Gatemen (12-19-0). The Cardinals certainly have had their success against the Gatemen this year as they have won all three contests between the squads. First pitch will be at 7:00pm at Eldredge Park.
W – Kyle Weiland (Notre Dame), 1-2
L – Sam Brown (NC State), 0-3
SV – Luke Burnett (Louisiana Tech), 4
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