By: Alec Henden

ORLEANS, Mass. – After the first three meetings between the Orleans Firebirds and Bourne Braves, the pitching for the Birds dominated.

They suffocated a punchless Braves' offense that mustered a grand total of two runs through three games, all of which occurred during the season’s first week.

The Orleans offense busted out and their starting pitcher excelled leading to a convincing win coming off back-to-back rainouts Friday evening at Eldredge Park. The Firebirds sent out the same lineup for the previous two games, and the anticipation was worth the wait, as the Birds came out on top in an 8-3 win over Bourne.

“We pitched really well, scored eight runs and played good defense,” Orleans manager Kelly Nicholson said. “Those are the four things you need to do well every night in this league in order to win. We did a pretty good job in all of those areas tonight.’

Keeping with the season's theme, Firebirds' starting pitcher Jake Eder (Vanderbilt) was tremendous, tossing five scoreless innings as he has yet to allow an earned run in his first 10 innings on the Cape. After being scheduled to pitch Thursday, Eder was pushed back to Friday due to the rainout and found success with an extra day of rest.

“I was able to get ahead with my fastball and commanded it well, which allowed my other stuff to play off it,” Eder said. “I just came back today and went through the same routine and was got ready for tonight.”

Eder’s fastball touched 96 mph at one point in the outing and effectively used it off his breaking ball.

“His command has been really good,” Nicholson said. “The changeup and breaking ball is good with the velocity up to 94-95 tonight was impressive. He’s a big left-hander with a loose arm that can pitch up in the zone that can get guys to chase.”

Trevin Esquerra (Loyola Marymount), who was a late addition to the lineup and started at first base due to an injury, played a pivotal role in the offensive outburst on Friday. Esquerra drove in three runs, including a big two-run bomb to right field that broke the contest open.

“It feels good to contribute and being able to help the team any way that I can,” Esquerra said. “I’m trying to find my groove again and find a way to get going.”

Esquerra’s home run was a big stepping-stone for a player that had struggled to begin his Cape season. A middle-in fastball to pull over the wall was what the switch hitter and ambidextrous thrower needed.

“I just kind of reacted to a fastball in the middle half of the zone,” Esquerra said. “I just got my best swing off on it and it happened to go out.”

Esquerra’s blast was one of three Orleans homers as catcher Rob Emery (San Francisco) and right fielder Zach Britton (Louisville) each went yard in support of Eder as the Birds (16-11-3) flexed their offensive muscles.

“Robby (Emery) did a really nice job and Trevin hit that home run which he’s capable of,” Nicholson said. “But we scored those three runs because Tanner Murray (UC Davis) ran a hard 90. He didn’t hit into a double play with the bases loaded that got us a run and Rob Emery did a good job getting that two-run single.”

The Firebirds’ catcher swung the bat well early in his Orleans tenure and showed some of his old form on Friday night, despite recently diminished playing time.

The Firebirds now head out on the road to take on the Falmouth Commodores for the final game before the Cape League All-Star Game. Orleans defeated the Commodores in its lone previous matchup, winning 3-1 at Guv Fuller Field on July 1.

Short Hops:

-Orleans will send left-hander Isaac Esqueda (USC) to the mound for Saturday’s contest against the Commodores. It will be Esqueda’s first start of the summer but he’s been very effective out of the bullpen to a tune of a 1.22 ERA.

-Zach Attack: The Birds started an all-Zach outfield with Kokoska (Kansas State), Daniels (Tennessee) and Britton going left to right. Nicholson kept the same starting lineup dating back to the Chatham rainout on Wednesday.

-Friday night’s three runs allowed to Bourne were the most Orleans gave up against the Braves through the 2019 season series. The Firebirds shutout Bourne in two of the games and allowed a total of five runs across four games.