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July 25, 2023 11:17 pm | by Joanna Dwyer
Wareham’s road woes were back on Tuesday night as they dropped the series finale against the Orleans Firebirds with a final score of 10-6. The Gatemen attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth but it was too little, too late.
After trailing by as many as seven runs, Wareham created a spark in the ninth inning with Dorian Gonzalez’s (University of Miami) second hit of the night. Gonzalez stole second and advanced to third to put a runner in scoring position for Korey Morton (UConn). Morton fell behind 0-2 in the count, but lined an RBI single of his own to tack on a run before also stealing second base. JC Colon (Missouri) mirrored Morton with yet another single to chip away at the lead. Bobby Boser (USF) hit a sacrifice hit to bring in Colon, who had advanced to third on an error, but the spark was put out with a flyout to center field for the final out of the game.
Will Koger (Louisville) started on the mound for the Gatemen and was immediately shaken up. The first batter he faced shot a solo home run into the Firebirds bullpen and gave them a 1-0 lead. Another run was put up by Orleans in the next inning with back to back singles before an RBI double. Koger ended his night after 3.2 innings of work and allowed seven runs on six hits, three of which were home runs.
The Gatemen started to fight back with Gonzalez hitting a single to lead off the top of the third. Colon reached on a fielding error by the Firebirds before Boser singled and loaded the bases for Michael Brooks (Kansas). Brooks lined a two run single to tie things up in the third. In the next at-bat, Boser took off for home as part of a double steal attempt and crossed the plate to give the Gatemen a 3-2 lead before Brooks was tagged out to end the inning between first and second
The lead was short-lived, however, as Orleans blasted a three-run bomb in the bottom of the third inning that landed just a few feet away from the first Firebirds home run earlier in the game. The long ball was the theme for the Firebirds on Tuesday night, as they hit a total of four home runs. In the bottom of the fourth, Jo Oyama (UC Irvine), the Cape League Player of the Week, launched his second home run of the night to put two more runs on the board. Orleans was able to add a run in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, one of which was yet another home run, before they shut the door on the Gatemen.
Wareham sits in last place in the West and 11 points behind the Bourne Braves as they head back to Spillane Field to face the Harwich Mariners for the final time in the regular season.
Michael Brooks (Kansas) throws to first during Wareham’s 10-6 loss to the Orleans Firebirds, July 25, 2023 at Spillane Field in Wareham. Photo by Maddy Djuric.
JC Colon (Missouri) bats during Wareham’s 10-6 loss to the Orleans Firebirds, July 25, 2023 at Spillane Field in Wareham. Photo by Maddy Djuric.
Grant Hussey (West Virginia) fields a ground ball at first base during Wareham’s 10-6 loss to the Orleans Firebirds, July 25, 2023 at Spillane Field in Wareham. Photo by Maddy Djuric.
Bobby Boser (USF) bats during Wareham’s 10-6 loss to the Orleans Firebirds, July 25, 2023 at Spillane Field in Wareham. Photo by Maddy Djuric.
Jedier Hernandez (Missouri transfer) catches during Wareham’s 10-6 loss to the Orleans Firebirds, July 25, 2023 at Spillane Field in Wareham. Photo by Maddy Djuric.
