ORLEANS — The Firebirds halted a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 win at Chatham on Monday. They were scheduled to play Bourne on Tuesday and at Yarmouth-Dennis on Wednesday.
The win carried extra importance, with the Anglers chasing the Firebirds in the standings. Orleans is currently holding down the fourth and final playoff spot in the Cape Cod Baseball League’s East Division — led by Yarmouth-Dennis.
The Firebirds are 14-19-4 overall and 4-5-1 over their last 10 games. The regular season schedule ends next week against Wareham on Aug. 2.
CCBL All-Stars Nate Furman, Luke Keaschall, and Travis Honeyman continue to spark the team at the plate. The trio have combined to drive in 33 runs this season, while Keaschall and Honeyman have each hit four home runs.
Donye Evans has picked up two losses in his last two starts, including against Chatham on July 21, after being the ace on the mound in his first four outings. Bryce Warrecker, with a league-best 1.73 ERA, has picked up the pitching staff.
Chatham 6, Orleans 3
Orleans slumped to a 6-3 loss on July 21 at Veterans Field. Johnny Castagnozzi went 2 for 3 from the bottom half of the order and scored twice for the Anglers. Donye Evans managed three innings on the hill for Orleans, surrendering three runs, including a two-run homer off the bat of Guy Garibay Jr. Orleans led 1-0 after the first inning, but Chatham scored two in the third and three in the fourth to take a 5-1 advantage. Orleans put up two more runs but couldn’t force a late rally.
Harwich 9, Orleans 4
Harwich put up five runs in the first four innings of action en route to a 9-4 win on July 22 at Whitehouse Field. Sean Sullivan pitched 4 1/3 innings for the Mariners, blanking the Firebirds before giving up a two-run double to Austin Knight in the top of the fifth. Orleans clawed to 6-4 before Harwich posted three runs in the sixth, which pushed the game out of reach.
Orleans 5, Chatham 2
Drew Metzdorf stepped up in his Firebirds debut at Eldredge Field on July 25 with a double that drove in two runs and gave the hosts a 4-2 lead in the eighth inning. Tommy Hopfe then added an insurance run with an RBI. Ben Shields pitched four scoreless innings, surrendering no hits with six strikeouts.
Upcoming games:
Friday, July 29 vs. Yarmouth-Dennis, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 30 at Hyannis, 6 p.m.
Sunday, July 31 vs. Brewster, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 1 at Brewster, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 2 vs. Wareham, 6:30 p.m.
