Boyer Provides Key RBI in First Game Back with Cotuit

By Megan Kerr, Asst. Web Editor
June 27, 2005

COTUIT, MA – The eighth inning proved the charm for the second straight night at Lowell Park as the Kettleers rallied to defeat the guest Bourne Braves, 5-2. Trailing by two entering the eighth inning, the Kettleers came back from a 2-0 deficit to plate five runs.

Bourne never regained as the Cotuit pitching worked hard to nail down Cotuit’s second straight win and an even record at .500.

Clay Dirks (LSU, 4 Ks, 1 BB) started the game for the Kettleers and pitched five very strong innings, only allowing one unearned run to score in the top of the fourth.  The Braves picked up their second run in the sixth inning off of reliever Derik Olvey (Notre Dame, 1 ER).  Blake Parker (Arkansas, 1 RBI, 1 for 3 batting) hit a home run, only the second hit all season against the Kettleers, against Olvey, putting the Braves up two to nothing.

With the brilliant pitching of Greg Reynolds (Stanford, 2 Ks, 1 BB), who only allowed three hits in his six innings, it seemed unlikely that the Kettleers were going to be able to make up the runs.  Cotuit never quit though, and with good relief work by Daniel Moskos (Clemson, 2 Ks), who evened his record to one win-one loss this season with a victory today, the Kettleers were able to pull out the victory.

Errors and well-placed bunts allowed the Kettleers to get back into the game as they scored five runs off of relievers Brandon Miller (Fresno State, 1 K) and Tyler Rhoden (Vanderbilt).  The bases were loaded after two walks and an error, which brought Brad Boyer (Arizona, 1 RBI) up to the plate.  Boyer proceeded to get his first RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly that brought in Julio Borbon (Tennessee).

Boyer, who hit .286 with six homers and 17 RBI in 31 games for The Kettleers last season, signed with the Kettleers yesterday after being drafted in the 14th round by the Seattle Mariners in the recently held Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

The Kettleers then quickly overtook the Braves as Roberto Lopez (USC, 1 RBI, 1 for 4 batting) bunted in the tying run and Sean Gaston (Notre Dame, 1 RBI, 1 for 4 batting) singled in the winning run as Gaston continued his recent streak of torrid hitting.  Insurance was added in the form of an error by the shortstop and a single by Bryan Harris (LSU, 1 RBI, 1 for 3 batting), which put the Kettleers up by three entering the ninth inning.

Chris Toneguzzi (Purdue) picked up his second save of the season when he came on in the ninth inning to close out the game with an easy one-two-three inning.  After having the lead for most of the game, the Braves were forced to go home empty handed after a great come-from-behind victory by the Kettleers.  Hopefully when Cotuit plays Yarmouth tommorow, the Kettleers will be able to take control from the very begginning as their bats are starting to warm up.