Gulls Lose Fourth Straight against Waves

Entering Friday’s game on a three-game losing streak, as well as three days off, the Newport Gulls were looking to snap the slide against their in-state rivals, the Ocean State Waves. However, ineffectiveness in clutch situations plagued the Gulls, as they dropped their fourth straight game to the Waves in front of 2,579 at Cardines Field.

The Waves came rallying out of the gate in the top of the first. Leading off the game, Evan Ocello laced a ball into the gap in right-center for a standup triple. Two batters later, Jordan Mountford hit a hard groundball to Blaise Salter, which was eventually converted to an infield single. Ocello scored the game’s first run on the play, giving the Waves a 1-0 lead over the Gulls.

Getting the start for the Gulls was southpaw Jack Patterson, who was making his fifth start of the summer. Patterson went two innings, allowing three runs on five hits with three strikeouts to his credit.

Tommy Edman continued to show his consistency as the leadoff batter in the bottom of the first. Facing Waves starter Mitchell Jordan, Edman launched a double to left, following that up with his stolen sixth base of the season. With the leadoff hit, Edman continued his streak of five straight games in which he led off the game with a hit. Eventually, Salter lofted a deep fly ball to right that was corralled by Mountford in right. Salter’s sacrifice fly was deep enough for Edman to score, tying the score at one.

In the bottom of the second, the Gulls rallied once more against Jordan and the Waves. A leadoff double by Tanner Donnels, an infield single by P.J. Jones, and a hit by pitch for Colby Wright loaded the bases with no outs for Anthony Lyons. Lyons lined a fly ball to center, scoring Donnels on a sacrifice fly to give the Gulls a 2-1 lead.

However, the Waves bounced back with a rally of their own in the top of the third. Allowing singles to A.J. Ramirez and Drew Ferguson, as well as an error by Wright that enabled Mountford to reach safely, Patterson faced a bases loaded situation with no outs. Patterson then walked Buck McCarthy and hit Tim Lynch with a pitch, enabling the Waves to take a 3-2 lead over the Gulls. With the bases still loaded, Gulls manager Mike Coombs decided to bring reliever Eric Stone into the game to escape the jam. Stone carried out his responsibility seamlessly, striking out Tim Caputo then causing former Gull Ethan Ferreira to ground into a double play to end the inning. Despite the escaped jam, the Gulls still trailed the Waves, 3-2.

After 2 2/3 solid innings from Stone, Coombs went to the bullpen with two outs and a runner on second, turning to right-hander Mick Van Vossen.

Van Vossen allowed an RBI double to Tim Lynch, furthering the Waves advantage in the process. Caputo followed that up with an RBI single that trickled past the diving Edman at shortstop. In the next at-bat, Ferreira lifted an RBI triple down the left field, giving the Waves a 6-2 lead over the Gulls.

 With Van Vossen coming out of the game in the seventh, Coombs turned to lefty Marc Huberman to keep the Waves offense at bay. Despite loading the bases, Huberman was able to work his way out of the jam, keeping the deficit at 6-2.  In the bottom of the eighth, Chandler Hawkins came into the game for Huberman. Despite allowing an RBI single to Ramirez, Hawkins struck out a batter, and induced a double play to end the inning.

 Armand Rugel came in for the ninth in an effort to quell the rallying efforts of the Waves. Despite allowing an RBI single to Alec Diamond, Rugel was able to work around the jam, keeping the Waves lead at 8-2.

With Friday’s loss, the Gulls fall to 16-9 on the 2014 NECBL Season. In the NECBL Southern Division, the Plymouth Pilgrims defeated the Mystic Schooners, meaning that the Gulls now trail the Pilgrims by 3 1/2 games in the divisional standings. The Gulls also fall to 2-1 on the season against the Ocean State Waves, with the next matchup between the two teams slated to take place on July 19.

Meanwhile, the Newport Gulls travel to Montpelier, Vermont to battle the Vermont Mountaineers at Montpelier Recreation Field. Johnathon Tripp (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will get the start for the Gulls, while the Mountaineers counter with Ty Wiest (1-0, 0.69 ERA). First pitch will commence at 6:35. The Gulls return home on Monday to host the Plymouth Pilgrims in a pivotal NECBL Southern Division contest.

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