Falmouth Takes Down Red Raiders in Extra Innings

They say that defense wins championships.

But it was Falmouth's lack of defense in the top of the 8th inning that gave Barnstable the go-ahead run, 6-5, and it was Barnstable's outfield miscue on a routine fly ball with two outs that cost the Red Raiders what appeared to be the victory.

The ending - a 7-6 win for the host Falmouth Clippers at Elmer "Guv" Fuller Field - was at the very least one that Falmouth righty Ryan Johnson deserved. He threw eight innings and struck out 14 Barnstable batters on an astounding 146 pitches. 

Johnson struck out the side in succession in the first inning, staked Barnstable three runs in the top of the 4th to see the game evened at 3-3, allowed another run in the 5th inning on a Chris Fowler double to make it 4-3, and then saw the Red Raiders' lead expand to 5-3 in the top of the 7th when the Clipper leftfielder dropped a two-out fly ball from TJ Wardwell that plated Fowler. Fowler had a pair of doubles for the Red & White and went 2-5 on the day with one RBI.

Johnson gave up six runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks. Falmouth committed six errors.

Barnstable senior righty Riley Ashe left the game with the no-decision after tossing five innings. He came out with the Red Raiders ahead, 4-3. All totalled, Ashe allowed three runs (two earned) on 7 hits, walked three and struck out four. The Red Raiders committed two errors while he was on the mound. Ashe helped his own cause in the bottom of the fifth inning when he gave up a leadoff single and then snared a vicious neck-high line drive and threw over to first base for a double play. Ashe finished with 75 pitches.

Barnstable senior righty Conor Walsh started the sixth inning in relief of Ashe, coming in with a one-run lead. He struck out the first two batters he faced, allowed a double in the left-centerfield gap and then got the fourth hitter he faced to ground out to second.

In the top of the seventh inning, still ahead, 4-3, Fowler launched an opposite field double down the left field line to the fence, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then came rambling home when a Wardwell fly ball to the left-centerfield gap was dropped by the Falmouth left fielder.

In the bottom of the 7th inning, Walsh struck out the first batter he faced, then gave up a single to none other than his mound opponent, Ryan Johnson. He then got the next batter to hit a grounder to the third base side which was misplayed and suddenly Falmouth had two runners in scoring position. He got the next hitter to line out to rightfield for the second out and then offered up a game-tying double on a 2-2 count. With the game-winning run in scoring position, the next Falmouth batter wristed a blooping 12-foot high pop fly over Walsh's head, but the pitcher made a spectacular diving grab over his shoulder to end the inning.

The game was tied, though, 5-5, and it appeared all bets were off. The game went into extra innings.

Johnson got Barnstable slugger Griffin Burke to fly out to second base to open the top of the 8th, and then struck out Micah Gregory, but the Falmouth catcher could not hold onto the ball and then threw it wildly to first as Gregory crossed the bag safely. J.R. DiSarcina's grounder to short was bobbled and Gregory was safe at second putting two men on with one out. Barnstable then staged a successful double-steal to put men on second and third base and an ensuing passed ball gave the Red Raiders a 6-5 lead. Johnson settled to strike out the next two batters he faced, leaving a man stranded on third.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, Walsh got the first Clipper he faced to ground out, then gave up a single. He got the next hitter to ground out for the second out. He then hit the next batter with a pitch on a 1-0 count. Up came Johnson, Falmouth's starting pitcher.

On an 0-1 count, Johnson hit what appeared to be a routine fly ball to right field with the Barnstable rightfielder right under it, but some sort of miscommunication occurred and the ball was allowed to drop straight to the ground. Both Falmouth baserunners scored, both runs were unearned, but it mattered little as the Clippers, and most importantly Johnson, secured the win.

Falmouth is now 2-3 on the season and Barnstable falls to 4-2, on a two-game losing streak.