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Game 32 Preview: Chatham vs. Falmouth
CHATHAM, Mass. — The Anglers are winless since the All-Star break.
A Tuesday rainout in Cotuit was sandwiched between losses on Monday and Wednesday. The most recent of the two defeats came against Falmouth, when the Commodores pounced for six runs in the opening two innings and knocked 12 hits — the most the A’s have conceded in a game since July 3 against Orleans.
But the Anglers don’t have to wait long for revenge. Chatham hosts Falmouth again Thursday in a rare home-and-home series, looking to right the ship at home.
Here’s everything to know about Chatham (11-16-3, East) and Falmouth (13-16-2, West) before they square off at Veterans Field.
For the A’s, All-Star righty Max Luzarraga (Dallas Baptist) is getting the nod. He hasn’t been in Chatham’s rotation for very long, as this will only be his third start of the summer, but he’s shoved every time he’s stepped on the mound. Luzarraga currently sports a 0.60 earned run average across six outings and 15 innings, and he’s given up a .157 batting average against.
Christian Aiello (Jacksonville State) was activated by the Commodores just a week ago, but is set to make his second start for Falmouth Thursday. The lefty started the summer in the Appalachian League, pitching to a 1.99 ERA in four starts and striking out a whopping 39 in 22.2 innings. He picked up where he left off in his first CCBL outing, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven.
Of the five Commodores who drove in runs Wednesday, Carter White (North Florida) did the most damage. He tallied three RBIs and two hits to pace the Falmouth offense. He’s now hitting .320 through 50 at-bats with the Commodores, totaling 13 RBIs and four extra-base hits in just 12 games. Look for him to keep rolling in his first trip to Veterans Field Thursday.
Brayden Jefferis (Michigan) is another relatively new face who’s put up numbers for Falmouth thus far. The infielder is hitting .348 with an .853 OPS through 17 games. His 24 hits in that span shows he’s a real threat for multi-hit games on any given night, and he’s stretched five of those into extra bases, with four doubles and a triple. He went 1-for-4 with a single, a walk and a run scored Wednesday.
In Wednesday’s loss, Bino Watters (LSU) notched his second three-hit game of the summer and first since July 9 at Wareham. Watters knocked three singles against the Commodores, also drove in a run, stole a base and walked. He’s been Chatham’s most consistent hitter over the month of July — now hitting .314 on the season with a .784 OPS — and he looks to finish the month strong in the final week.
Armani Guzman (West Virginia) returned to Chatham Monday after a brief break for the MLB Draft. But he truly reintroduced himself Wednesday, knocking his first hit since returning and reaching base twice. He showed some pop for the Anglers Wednesday, notching his first extra-base hit for Chatham with a second-inning double hit off the wall in dead center. He’s now hitting .286 on the campaign with a .821 OPS.
The Commodores currently lead all Cape League teams with 304 strikeouts at the plate this year — 24 more than second place, Cotuit, and 31 more than Chatham. Falmouth’s arms have struck out 250 batters, a mark that ranks second to last in the league, so there’s a clear discrepancy there.
It wasn’t much of an issue Wednesday, when the Anglers struck out eight times to Falmouth’s seven, but Falmouth tends to go down by way of the K often. With Luzarraga on the hill Thursday — who sports a 11.40 K/9 mark on the campaign — that could be a common theme.
Chatham and Falmouth’s last matchup was just a day ago, when the Commodores came out with a 10-4 win. Falmouth ignited for 12 hits and double-digit runs for the first time since July 4.
Yet, the Anglers’ bats actually pounced first. In his final game with the A’s, Junior Lauaki (Georgia) blasted a two-run homer in the first inning to give Chatham the early advantage. But Falmouth responded, putting three runs across in the first.
The A’s had an answer and tied the game at three in the second, but ultimately couldn’t keep up. Chatham used five pitchers, but the Commodore bats were all over the A’s staff. Starter Terry Hayes Jr. (Ole Miss) got the worst of it, allowing six runs — three unearned — in 1.2 innings. Chatham will look to right that wrong with a win at home Thursday.
A Tuesday rainout in Cotuit was sandwiched between losses on Monday and Wednesday. The most recent of the two defeats came against Falmouth, when the Commodores pounced for six runs in the opening two innings and knocked 12 hits — the most the A’s have conceded in a game since July 3 against Orleans.
But the Anglers don’t have to wait long for revenge. Chatham hosts Falmouth again Thursday in a rare home-and-home series, looking to right the ship at home.
Here’s everything to know about Chatham (11-16-3, East) and Falmouth (13-16-2, West) before they square off at Veterans Field.
Probable Starters
For the A’s, All-Star righty Max Luzarraga (Dallas Baptist) is getting the nod. He hasn’t been in Chatham’s rotation for very long, as this will only be his third start of the summer, but he’s shoved every time he’s stepped on the mound. Luzarraga currently sports a 0.60 earned run average across six outings and 15 innings, and he’s given up a .157 batting average against.
Christian Aiello (Jacksonville State) was activated by the Commodores just a week ago, but is set to make his second start for Falmouth Thursday. The lefty started the summer in the Appalachian League, pitching to a 1.99 ERA in four starts and striking out a whopping 39 in 22.2 innings. He picked up where he left off in his first CCBL outing, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven.
Falmouth Players To Watch
Of the five Commodores who drove in runs Wednesday, Carter White (North Florida) did the most damage. He tallied three RBIs and two hits to pace the Falmouth offense. He’s now hitting .320 through 50 at-bats with the Commodores, totaling 13 RBIs and four extra-base hits in just 12 games. Look for him to keep rolling in his first trip to Veterans Field Thursday.
Brayden Jefferis (Michigan) is another relatively new face who’s put up numbers for Falmouth thus far. The infielder is hitting .348 with an .853 OPS through 17 games. His 24 hits in that span shows he’s a real threat for multi-hit games on any given night, and he’s stretched five of those into extra bases, with four doubles and a triple. He went 1-for-4 with a single, a walk and a run scored Wednesday.
Chatham Players To Watch
In Wednesday’s loss, Bino Watters (LSU) notched his second three-hit game of the summer and first since July 9 at Wareham. Watters knocked three singles against the Commodores, also drove in a run, stole a base and walked. He’s been Chatham’s most consistent hitter over the month of July — now hitting .314 on the season with a .784 OPS — and he looks to finish the month strong in the final week.
Armani Guzman (West Virginia) returned to Chatham Monday after a brief break for the MLB Draft. But he truly reintroduced himself Wednesday, knocking his first hit since returning and reaching base twice. He showed some pop for the Anglers Wednesday, notching his first extra-base hit for Chatham with a second-inning double hit off the wall in dead center. He’s now hitting .286 on the campaign with a .821 OPS.
Number To Know: 304
The Commodores currently lead all Cape League teams with 304 strikeouts at the plate this year — 24 more than second place, Cotuit, and 31 more than Chatham. Falmouth’s arms have struck out 250 batters, a mark that ranks second to last in the league, so there’s a clear discrepancy there.
It wasn’t much of an issue Wednesday, when the Anglers struck out eight times to Falmouth’s seven, but Falmouth tends to go down by way of the K often. With Luzarraga on the hill Thursday — who sports a 11.40 K/9 mark on the campaign — that could be a common theme.
Last Time They Played
Chatham and Falmouth’s last matchup was just a day ago, when the Commodores came out with a 10-4 win. Falmouth ignited for 12 hits and double-digit runs for the first time since July 4.
Yet, the Anglers’ bats actually pounced first. In his final game with the A’s, Junior Lauaki (Georgia) blasted a two-run homer in the first inning to give Chatham the early advantage. But Falmouth responded, putting three runs across in the first.
The A’s had an answer and tied the game at three in the second, but ultimately couldn’t keep up. Chatham used five pitchers, but the Commodore bats were all over the A’s staff. Starter Terry Hayes Jr. (Ole Miss) got the worst of it, allowing six runs — three unearned — in 1.2 innings. Chatham will look to right that wrong with a win at home Thursday.
