With a Chance at History, Anglers Face Tough Road Test

by Chris Jones, 06-18-2013

The last team a team in the Cape League started the season 6-0 was in 2007, when the Y-D Red Sox won their first six games, and eventually won the Cape Cod League Championship.

That team featured guys like Buster Posey, who is now the San Francisco Giants starting catcher and was awarded the 2012 National League MVP, and Gordon Beckham, who now plays shortstop for the Chicago White Sox. Normally, comparisons to a team like this, and a chance to go 6-0 on the season would have the team walking tall, but there is a work man-like mentality with the Anglers this season.

"We know we are off to a good start, but we realize there is a long season ahead," Andrew Chin (Boston College) said. "We need to keep executing and playing the way we have been playing."

Chin picked up the win on Monday night against the Falmouth Commodores. In his outing, he threw five scoreless innings, only allowing two hits, and striking out two. In eight innings pitched over two outings this season, Chin has still yet to allow a run.

Jimmy Pickens (Michigan State) hit Chathams first home run of the season on a second-inning shot to right field. Mitchell Gunsolus (Gonzaga) also added an RBI single to help the Anglers beat Falmouth 4-2.

The Anglers will travel to Hyannis to face the Harbor Hawks on Tuesday night. Left-hander Andrew McGee (Monmouth) will be on the mound for Chatham in his second start of the young season.

McGees first start came in the season opener at Wareham, where he struck out nine and only allowed three hits.

The game against Hyannis will be the first of two road games of the season for the Anglers, and will be a battle of the final two unbeaten teams in the Cape League, with the Harbor Hawks standing at 3-0 on the season.

Coach John Schiffner thinks his team is ready for this tough road test.

"It's pretty simple, we just need to keep playing the way we are playing," Schiffner said. "We are executing, we're hitting the ball good, and we're getting good outings from our pitching staff."

Tuesday night will be a matchup of the top hitting team and the top pitching team in the Cape League, as Chatham leads the league in batting average at .281, while Hyannis leads the league in team earned run average at 1.80 earned runs per game.

On the mound for the Harbor Hawks will be right-hander Rocky McCord (Auburn), who makes his first start of the season. For Auburn in 2013, McCord had a 3.96 ERA in seven appearances (six starts).

For the Anglers, it is all a matter of execution.

"Right now, we are really executing well as a team," Pickens said. "When guys get on base, we are driving them in, and when the other team scores, we minimize the damage. That is how you win."

First pitch is at 6 p.m. Tune into the Anglers Extra Pregame Show at 5:40 p.m. for live coverage with broadcasters Brandon Liebhaber and Keith Zubrow at TRZ Teamline or call 1-800-846-4700, code 3841.

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