One hit and one run were all the Chatham Anglers (25-12-1) could muster against the Brewster Whitecaps, who cruised to an 8-1 victory at Stony Brook Field on Tuesday night.
"It did not seem like we were focused tonight," Manager
John Schiffner said. "They were very loose, but maybe a little too loose."
The Anglers were 5-0 against the Whitecaps on the season coming into tonight, but could not finish the season sweep. For the second time in three games, the Anglers fell flat against a last-place team.
Box Score
Game 38: Chatham 1, Brewster 8
The Chatham offense was stymied by Brewster starter Justin Kamplain (Alabama), who did not allow a hit and struck out six over five innings pitched.
"He was really good, there is a reason he (Kamplain) was an All-Star," Schiffner said. "We just did not have it today. Have to tip our caps to Brewster."
Brewster struck first against Anglers starter
Aaron Garza (Houston) in the third on an RBI groundout from Ford Stainbeck (Rice), then Scott Heineman (Oregon) added the second Brewster run when he got Garza to balk, scoring him from third.
Garza would finish his outing allowing only the two runs, both unearned, and three strikeouts.
"The record does not reflect how well Garza has pitched for us," Schiffner said. "It is a shame that we could not get a win for him."
The Anglers were held without a hit until the seventh inning, when
J.D Davis (Cal State Fullerton) collected his 18th RBI of the season when he laced a double that scored
Dante Flores (USC), who had been hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning.
Chatham threatened to tie the game, and even take the lead, when they loaded the bases with two outs in the same frame, but Brett Bell (Texas Tech) lined out softly to end the threat.
That would be the final legitimate threat for the Anglers against the Whitecaps.
Brewster broke the game wide open in the 8th inning with five runs off of
Kyle Funkhouser (Louisville), who allowed his first runs since July 2.
The game was called after the eighth inning due to darkness, and the Anglers were handed their 12th loss of the season.
One of the few bright spots for the Anglers on Tuesday night was reliever
David Speer (Columbia), who came in in the sixth inning and worked out of a jam, then pitched another inning of relief in the seventh inning.
"We were so fortunate to pick him up. He has really been great for us," Schiffner said.
Chatham will now begin an important two-day stretch, where they will play three games against division opponents at Veterans Field. The Anglers take on Y-D tomorrow, then will have a double-header against Harwich on Thursday.
"They are definitely important. We are in a good spot where we don't have to fight for a playoff spot, but It would be good to get some wins," Schiffner said.
Chris Jones is the Beat Writer and Social Media Manager for the Chatham Anglers. Follow him on twitter at @Chrisjones_UO, and follow the Chatham Anglers at @ChathamAnglers.