By: Alec Henden

ORLEANS, Mass. – Throughout Thursday night’s game the Orleans Firebirds found themselves with numerous opportunities to score runs. The leadoff hitter was on base more often than not and innings were consistesntly being built.

The Falmouth Commodore pitchers were constantly throwing from the stretch position with traffic around them on the bases, and it seemed inevitable that a big inning would break through.

Unfortunately the momentum never came their way and it ended with a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Falmouth. The Commodores have now won eight straight games as they continue to run away with the west division. Like the previously hot Firebirds, Falmouth is reaping the benefits of fortuitous bounces that have gone their way through the long winning streak.

“We had a bunch of opportunities tonight,” Orleans assistant coach Ryan Erickson said. “We ran ourselves out of a few innings when we had scoring opportunities despite getting double digit hits.”

The Birds outhit the Commodores 10 to eight; they had multiple base runners on in all but one inning. They had two costly base running blunders and hit into a killer double play on a line drive back to the pitcher that doubled off a runner at second base.

“We can’t make base running mistakes,” Erickson said. “It’s a total momentum killer when you have guys in scoring position and we get thrown out or doubled up on line drives. A lot of learning opportunities for us tonight.”

Right-hander Noah Skirrow (Liberty) gutted through five innings allowing three total runs, with only one run earned. After mostly holding the potent Commodore offense at bay he delivered one of his few mistakes that Falmouth center fielder Blake Dunn (Western Michigan) deposited deep over the left field wall.

Orleans received a shot in the arm from reliever Jeffrey Praml (Southern New Hampshire) who threw four innings to preserve the bullpen and dominated in his first three innings. Praml ran into some trouble in his final inning as he allowed two home runs, which was not helped by a fielding error to lead off the inning.

What Praml was able to accomplish was giving the rest of his bullpen mates the night off and struck out five Falmouth hitters including striking out the side in the seventh inning.

“He picked us up for sure and does a great job of that,” Erickson said. “He continues to throw strikes in whatever role that he’s been given by Mathew Troupe and Coach Nick (manager Kelly Nicholson). He comes in with mentality and induces weak contact for the most part.”

For the second consecutive time against the Commodores, the Birds waited until they were down to their final out to score. Recently added back infielder Julio Marcano (New Jersey Institute of Technology) lined an RBI-single to center field scoring Zach Daniels (Tennessee) from second.

“I told him it was like riding a bike,” Erickson said. “He said that he’d been waiting for that all summer and it was good to see that.”

After a tough loss the Birds get the benefit of seeing Falmouth on back-to-back days looking to get back on track. If the doubleheader against Harwich is a baseline the Firebirds appear in good position to rediscover the offensive attack that can be so dangerous when the bats are rolling.

Short Hops:

Orleans will send left-hander Jake Eder (Vanderbilt) to the mound for Friday’s meeting against Falmouth. Eder has yet to allow a run through 10 Cape League innings and has been a tremendous edition for the Birds.

Marcano was added back to the active roster prior to Thursday’s game to rejoin the team. Marcano appeared for Orleans early in the summer but missed time with a shoulder injury and returns for the stretch run.

Max Troiani (Bentley) made his first appearance in the infield this summer after the Birds emptied the bench and shuffled the defensive positions.