Mark down another impressive start for Jake Bird.
In his third start of the season, the righty from UCLA threw six shutout innings to lead the Falmouth Commodores (9-8) to a 4-0 win over the Wareham Gatemen (9-7-1).
The Gatemen knocked four singles off Bird, all to lead off the respective innings (2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th)….but that was all they could muster. Bird stifled the Gatemen all night long and excellent command of his slider was key, leading to 10 ground ball outs. He struck out four and drew the attention of national scouts.
The only real trouble came in the third. After a leadoff infield single from Robert Metz, a stolen base and productive groundout, the Gatement had a run 90 feet away. But Bird calmly struck out slugger Colton Shaver with Metz on third to end the threat.
He faced a similar situation in the sixth that ended with the runner stranded on third as well. After getting out of that jam, he slapped hands and congratulated his teammates on the way back to the dugout.
Offensively, the tables turned in favor of the Commodores. After allowing 5 unearned runs against Hyannis, the ‘Dores took advantage of two defensive miscues in the fourth to get on the scoreboard.
Hitting in the three-hole, Trevor Larnach (Oregon St.) led off the fourth with a walk. Willie Burger (Penn St.) then grounded into what appeared to be a routine double play ball, but Wareham’s second baseman bobbled the ball at the second, causing all runners to reach base safely. Tristan Gray (Rice) laid a perfect bunt to move them over and Tyler Lawrence followed with a single to bring Larnach home. In the next at-bat, Duce reached on an error from shortstop Preston Grand Pre that allowed Burger to score.
Falmouth tacked on insurance in the following inning. Michael Gigliotti, who hit leadoff in place of the injured Kevin Merrell, sliced a beautiful double in the right center gap to lead off the fifth. He moved to third on a Cadyn Grenier infield bunt single and scored on Trevor Larnach’s RBI single. Gray followed with float single to center that brought Grenier home.
Four runs was plenty to back Bird and the bullpen. Following his solid start, Tyler Jones (Wichita St.), Brett Gilchrist (Dallas Baptist) and Stephen Villines (Kansas) worked clean 7th, 8th and 9th innings to close out the 4-0 win.
With the win, the Commodores close the book on the first month of the season at 9-8.
The Commodores plans at another win are on hold as they take a breather for their second off-day of the week tomorrow. Following the rest, the team hits the road to face the division leading Bourne Braves.
The Commodores Corner 