21 July, 2004

Mariners Stay in Hunt with Big Win

     It is too early in the season to say any game is a must win, but the Mariners' Monday tilt with Y-D was close. 

     Entering the game, Harwich was 12-14 and was chasing the second place (16-11) Red Sox. A loss to Y-D would have put the Mariners in a very deep hole, but the Mariners proved up to the challenge. Powered by three RBIs by All-Star catcher John Slone and a solo homer by James Holder, the Mariners edged Y-D 4-3. Slone plated two runners with a double in the first and drove home another in the third, and Holder added his blast in the fourth. 

     That proved to be enough for the threesome of Anthony Varvaro, Kevin Lynch and Craig Hansen who combined to hold Y-D to three runs on three hits. Varvaro ran into trouble surrendering a pair in the first on a Ryan Rohlinger single and Joe Anthonsen drove in a run in the third to put Y-D up 3-2. 

     "Varvaro struggled early but he settled down nicely, found his location and kept us in the game," said manager Steve Englert. 

     Varvaro went seven innings, giving up just three hits and striking out nine. He gave way to Lynch who battled back from a lead-off walk to force home run leader Matt LaPorta to ground into a double play. Hansen came on to work a 1-2-3 ninth to secure a Mariner victory. 

     "Lynch pitched outstanding and we have the big easy coming in to slam the door shut; we feel pretty good when we have him going in the ninth," said Englert. 

     The win puts Harwich just six points (three wins) back of East leaders Brewster and Y-D. For Hansen it was business as usual as he shut down the Red Sox in order ending the game with a strikeout. 

     "It's a good win when it's close like that and we are in playoff contention. It could be the difference between making the playoffs and not," said Hansen. 

     Slone was excited with the big road victory heading toward the All-Star game. 

     "To come on their field and beat a team that is ahead of us in the standings is big. We got great pitching and this was a big win," said Slone. 

     In the next week the Mariners will face Brewster, Chatham and Orleans and have an opportunity to improve their playoff status, and distance themselves from the A's and Cardinals.