By: Alec Henden

FALMOUTH, Mass. – When assessing the Orleans Firebirds it’s hard to point to many flaws. The pitching has been among the leagues best throughout the summer, they make the routine play at a high rate and have found ways to put their opponents away when they make mistakes.

However, the offense has at times been suspect due to a lot of swing and misses throughout the batting order. A punch less offense plagued Orleans on Saturday night as they fell to the Falmouth Commodores by a final score of 4-1.

“They were pounding the zone and did a great job of keeping us off balance,” Orleans assistant coach Jamie Quinn said. “We just really couldn’t get anything going.”

Orleans had opportunities to get on the board but failed to capitalize on a two on and two out situation in the fourth inning, which was hampered by a hit-and-run that didn’t come to fruition.

Commodores’ starter Chris Gonzalez (Stetson) dominated by throwing six shutout innings by inducing a lot of weak contact. The left-hander only struck out two hitters in his outing and had struggled previously as he entered the start with an ERA of 7.17.

“He had a lot of movement on his fastball as well as his cutter inside,” outfielder Max Troiani (Bentley) said. “His breaking ball did just enough to throw us off and he was able to spot everything up well.”

Falmouth took advantage by scoring twice in the bottom half off Orleans’ reliever Angelo Smith (Michigan) who was ambushed with back-to-back base hits on the first two pitches he threw in the outing.

With the All-Star game looming and recent rainouts washing away opportunities to play, Orleans manager Kelly Nicholson came up with a creative way to get his bullpen guys some work by having a collection of relievers pitch the entire eight innings.

Only starter Isaac Esqueda (USC) went multiple innings as he continued his strong Cape season by striking out four hitters in two perfect innings.

“That was the kind of thing you do before you have a day off,” Quinn said. “We Johnny Wholestaffed it to get everyone a little touch and feel against live hitters before the off day.”

Relievers Jeffry Praml (Southern New Hampshire) and Chase Wallace (Tennessee) each threw perfect frames and showed good velocity on their fastballs.

The Birds got on the board in the ninth on a solo home run from Shay Whitcomb (UC San Diego) when they were down to their final out. Whitcomb now leads Orleans in home runs with four round trippers on the summer.

Following the Cape League All-Star game on Sunday, the Firebirds head back on the road for a makeup game against the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Orleans was rained out against Hyannis on July 12 as well as every other game in the league.

It will be special for Troiani, who was only supposed to be with the team for a couple of weeks, now he’s going to be starting in center field at his home ballpark.

“I’m super excited to be apart of it,” Troiani said. “I have my buddies and my brothers here who made the drive. I’m surrounded by the people I love and playing the game that I love.”

Short Hops:

Orleans will send right-hander Austin Love (North Carolina) to the mound for Monday’s game against Hyannis. The start will likely be Love’s final appearance for the Firebirds.

The Birds will head into the All-Star game in third place in the east division, with a six-point lead on the Brewster Whitecaps.

At the break the Orleans leader in hitting (Troiani) and home runs (Whitcomb) both attend division two baseball programs. Talent comes from all over the place.