Several players taking a selfie before Brewster’s game at home against Yarmouth-Dennis. Photo credit: Sadie Parker
By Mark Rappaport
BREWSTER — The Brewster Whitecaps (4-6-1) were shut out Friday evening 2-0 by the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (7-4-1), dropping four straight as their offensive woes continued with runners in scoring position.
Brewster was 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, which has been a staple of its four-game skid. The Whitecaps are fourth in batting average but only eighth in runs scored.
“We had opportunities to score runs and again just couldn’t come up with the two-out hit,” head coach Jamie Shevchik said. “It seems like the theme now.”
The game was scoreless until the sixth inning. Brewster had multiple chances to score, leaving a combined six runners on. The climax was in the fourth inning, when Brewster had the bases loaded against Red Sox starter Jackson Kent (Arizona) with right fielder Patrick Forbes (Louisville) at the plate, who grounded out to third base.
The fatal blow came off a blast by Red Sox designated hitter Hunter Hines (Mississippi State), as he launched a two-run home run over the outstretched glove of Forbes in right field to take the lead. Hines came in clutch again for the Red Sox after he hit a similar two-RBI home run to lift them over Brewster in Yarmouth on June 12.
Southpaw Javyn Pimental (Missouri) shined for a third straight start, pitching five innings of shutout ball while giving up three hits and one walk alongside three punchouts. He battled all night but got through it unscathed, securing groundouts.
“I didn’t really have my best stuff today,” Pimental said. “A lot of weak contact. The guys behind me made plays.”
Shevchik was impressed by what he saw from Pimental today and throughout the season in the lefty’s three starts.
“We have very few bright spots right now, but [Pimental’s] one of them,” Shevchik said. “He’s a bonafide starter, for sure, and he gives us a shot to win every time he’s in there.”
Pimental in the midst of his scoreless outing Friday evening for Brewster. Photo credit: Sadie Parker
Davin Pollard (Austin Peay) relieved Pimental and subsequently walked Cape League hits leader Max Viera (Seton Hall) and gave up the decisive two-run blast to Hines, giving the Red Sox a 2-0 lead, which they would not relinquish.
Pollard stranded three runners in the seventh and eighth innings, headlined by an impressive play by shortstop Payton Green (NC State) in a collision with left fielder Trevor Austin (Missouri).
Unlike the past few games, the pitching came in the clutch for Brewster, stranding nine baserunners, keeping Brewster in the game throughout. However, it was not enough, as the Red Sox’s pitching staff stymied the Whitecaps’ offense.
“We pitched really well today. Like I said, we made one mistake. We left one fastball in the middle of the plate to a really good hitter,” Shevchik said. “The bullpen was great.”
Kent started the game for Yarmouth-Dennis in his Cape League debut. Like his fellow southpaw Pimental, Kent glimmered for his club, throwing four innings of shutout ball, giving up two hits and one walk, alongside six punchouts. Notably, Kent struck out seven out of his first ten batters Friday evening.
Sawyer Hawks (Air Force) and Blake Aita (Kennesaw State) shut down Brewster’s offense in the game’s final five innings, striking out a combined nine batters while only giving up two hits.
Brewster’s defense, which has struggled lately, improved on Friday, committing only one error throughout the game. In particular, the infield defense led by second baseman Vince Cimini (Boston College) made a few headline plays, keeping the Whitecaps in the game.
The Whitecaps look to return to the win column Saturday evening in a matchup against the Bourne Braves at Doran Park, with first pitch at 6:30 p.m.