Chatham, Mass. — After rallying from a four run deficit to beat the first place Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox yesterday, the Chatham Anglers return to Veterans Field to play host to the Harwich Mariners tonight at 7 p.m.

The Anglers (14-22-1) enter the contest nipping at the heels of the Brewster Whitecaps by just one point for the final playoff spot in the East. Last night’s game was the first in a series of four straight matchups against the top two teams in the division, where Chatham will look to make up ground with seven games remaining in the regular season.

Harwich (22-13-2) rides in to Chatham following a 7-5 win over the Orleans Firebirds on Tuesday at Whitehouse Field. With the win, the Mariners are now tied for first place in the East after dropping to second behind Y-D earlier in the week.

While Harwich has scored 153 runs – second from the bottom in the division – it is pitching that has led to sustained success for Steve Englert’s squad. Surrendering a stingy 83 runs, the Mariners have the only pitching staff to not allow more than 100 runs this season. The Falmouth Commodores, who have given up the second fewest runs, have allowed 123.

At the Plate: Jake Palomaki was the only Angler to record multiple hits in yesterday’s 5-4 win at Y-D. After roping a single to right in the first at-bat of the game, the Boston College product sparked a Chatham rally by singling again in the top of the ninth.

In his past four games, Palomaki has five hits, five runs, two walks, and two RBIs while striking out once in 18 plate-appearances. On the season, Palomaki is hitting at an average of .226 and has reached base in 24 of his 29 games played.   

While the Mariners have not been known for their offense this season, they still sport a four hitters batting over .300 on the season. Joe Dunand, the team leader with a .373 batting average, has gone 9-for-14 in his past four games. The North Carolina State infielder has scored seven runs while driving in five more in that span.

On the Rubber: Andrew Karp (1-2) is set to take the mound for the Anglers today, who look to register back-to-back wins against the division’s top squads. In four starts this summer, Karp has crafted a 2.70 ERA while striking out 16 batters in 20 innings.

The last time Karp faced Harwich came back on July 13 when the Florida State Seminole was the hard luck loser, despite surrendering just two runs and striking out five. Karp will look to repeat his performance against Cotuit on July 20 when he went six innings, allowing one run. In the outing, Karp struck out four while surrendering three hits.

Harwich will trot out Peter Solomon (0-0) as the Mariners try and rattle off their third win in four games. In eight contests this season, the Notre Dame righty has allowed two runs in 26 and a third innings, good for a team-best 0.68 ERA.

Back on July 13 against Chatham, Solomon appeared in relief, earning the save after tossing four shutout innings. In the contest, the sophomore allowed no hits and walked one batter.

Down the Road: The Anglers, and the rest of the CCBL, will have Thursday off before heading to Harwich on Friday for a rematch with the Mariners at 6:30 p.m.

Broadcast Information

Make sure to tune in at 6:40 p.m. today for the Anglers Extra Pregame Show on the Cape Cod Baseball Network. Evan Stockton will introduce you to his Catch of the Day while Jake Eisenberg sits down with manager John Schiffner. 

The full broadcast of today’s game is available online and over the phone at 1-800-846-4700, code 3481. Visit Broadcast Central for more details.