Anglers Look to Bounce Back, Face Tough Road Test

by Chris Jones, 07-29-2013

The Chatham Anglers were dealt a tough loss on Sunday Night at the hands of the last-place Wareham Gatemen, and will now face a tough road test as they travel to Falmouth to take on the Commodores (20-16).

"We did not play well all around, but our guys have had no problem all season bouncing back from a loss, coming out the next day, and playing well," Manager John Schiffner said.

This will be only the third game in the past week for the Anglers, who will be making their second and final trip of the regular season to Guv Fuller Field. In their last trip, the Commodores handled the Anglers 6-1 on June 22, part of the Anglers four-game losing streak after starting 6-0.

In the last meeting between these two teams, the Anglers silenced the potent Commodores, and the Anglers offense exploded for 10 runs in the 10-4 victory on July 20.

Lukas Schiraldi (Texas) was on the mound that night, and shut down the league-leading Falmouth offense, only allowing four hits and no runs over six dominant innings. Schiraldi will be on the mound again tonight, making his seventh start of the season.

Schiraldi is 3-0 in his last three starts, 3-1 on the season, and has only allowed five earned runs over 31.2 total innings pitched this season.

Looking to help give the Anglers their second loss in-a-row will be Commodores right-hander Kevin McCanna (Rice). On the season, McCanna is 2-1 with a 4.79 ERA in six appearances (three starts). After making three appearances out of the bullpen, McCanna has made three starts, in which he has allowed fourteen hits and seven earned runs over 16.2 innings.

The Commodores still lead the league in hitting, as they have most season. They lead in team batting average (.271), runs scored (194), home runs (26), hits (341), and RBI (167).

Falmouth has four batters batting over .300, including Dylan Davis (Oregon State) who his hitting .338 with five home runs and 23 RBI, Kevin Newman (Arizona) who is hitting .333 with 16 RBI, and Kevin Cron who is hitting .323 with four home runs and 27 RBI.

The Anglers have a potent offense of their own, including Jimmy Pickens (Michigan State), who has collected nine hits, two home runs, and four RBI in his last five games.

Mitch Gunsolus (Gonzaga) is 8-14 in his last four games, raising his batting average to a .291 clip.

Facing a tough test against a Falmouth team who has clinched a playoff spot in the Western Division, Schiffner is expecting a big bounce-back performance from his team.

"These guys do not like to lose, and they have always come back strong from a loss," Schiffner said.

First pitch at 7 p.m. Tune into the Anglers Extra Pregame Show at 6:40 p.m. for live coverage with broadcasters Brandon Liebhaber and Keith Zubrow at TRZ Teamline or call 1-800-846-4700, code 3841.



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.

05/28/2020 - 06/03/2020