Chatham, Mass. — Wareham pitching had sat down 21 straight Anglers before the beginning of the eighth inning. Trailing 1-0, Chatham rallied, putting runners on second and third with two outs, giving John Aiello a chance to turn the game around. On a one and two count, Aiello struck out looking and walked baked to the dugout dejected while Chatham went on to lose their second consecutive game.

Falling 1-0 to Wareham, the Anglers’ offense managed just two hits on the night, while striking out eleven times. Hitting has become an issue for Chatham, as they have failed to produce more than three runs for five straight games. In that span, the Angler offense has struck out 42 times.

“I’m not upset at my kids at all,” said manager John Schiffner. “They’re playing hard, they’re playing through this. I told them ‘keep battling, keep working, keep supporting each other.’”

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The Gatemen touted out four pitchers to the mound, all of whom recorded at least one strikeout, except for closer Christian Taugner. Nick Sprengel (1-0), a left-hander out of the University of San Diego, got the win after pitching three innings in relief, striking out seven.

Only Ryan Selmer ran into trouble for Wareham, as Chatham hitters strung together two base runners in the eighth inning but were unable to score. Sean Bouchard led off that inning for the Anglers by scorching a double down the right field line. Three batters later, Selmer plunked Stuart Fairchild, who was hit by a pitch twice last night.

The Anglers pitching staff once again turned in a stellar performance yesterday, conceding one run on six hits. Starter Andrew Karp went four full frames, striking out five and allowing just a first inning single to Cole Freeman. The lone run for Wareham came off of Pittsburgh reliever Isaac Mattson (1-1) in the sixth.

Allowing his first run of the season, Mattson gave up a leadoff double to Harrison Wenson, who came home three batters later on a two-out bloop single into shallow left field. Mattson was charged with the loss.

Before the earned run, Chatham twice came a few feet from taking a 1-0 lead in the early innings. In the first, Jake Palomaki flew out to right field on a ball that was a few feet shy of a home run. Right fielder Robert Metz made the catch standing on the warning track. 

Not to be outdone, Aillo crushed a Jeff Bain pitch to deep center two innings later that hung up just enough to stay in play and be caught for the second out of the frame.

“We hit the ball on the nose a few times [tonight], the Wareham guys made the plays,” said manager John Schiffner. “A few feet either way and we’re in that game or win that game.” 

DJ Artis also scorched a 0-1 pitch directly at the right fielder in the ninth.

Great diffensive played riddled the score sheet tonight as Patrick Mathis once again exemplified his range in right field. In the top of the eighth, Wareham had a man on second and two outs with Joey Bartosic at the plate. The centerfielder drove a ball that looked to be dropping into shallow right-center before Mathis came seemingly from out of nowhere to make a full extension, diving catch to save a run and end the inning.

Catcher Alex LeFevre had a good game behind the dish, gunning down runners in the first and the fifth trying to steal second base.

The Anglers will look to avoid losing three consecutive games for the first time all season when they travel to Lowell Park Wednesday at 5 p.m. to square off with the Cotuit Kettleers. Catch all the action – including the Anglers Extra Pregame Show – on the Cape Cod Baseball Network.