The cavalry has begun to arrive, and things are looking up for the Falmouth Commodores. After losing four in a row last week, the Commodores have turned things around.

     On Wednesday night, the Commodores ran their winning streak to three in a row as they got back to the .500 mark with a 3-1 win over the visiting Brewster Whitecaps.

     Falmouth starter Shooter Hunt (Virginia) came to the ballpark thinking that he might be used out of the bullpen, but when a freak injury to schedule hurler Scott Carroll (Missouri State), who injured his hand on a car door, forced Falmouth to make a sudden change, it was Hunt that got the ball. Apparently Head Coach Jeff Trundy should spring starts on Hunt randomly throughout the season because the right-hander responded to the opportunity by pitching a gem of a game for the Commodores.

     Hunt worked six strong innings and was excellent as he fanned 11 and walked three while spinning a two-hitter over his tenure on the hill. Hunt gave way after six shutout frames and watched his bullpen shut the door as the Commodores kept their streak going.

     “It was a little different (not having time to prepare to start), but it helped not having to think about it all day, not knowing if we’d actually play (because of the spotty weather),” Hunt said after the game. “The adrenaline was definitely pumping as soon as I got the call.”

     Falmouth led from wire-to-wire but could have won with ease had they not squandered several scoring chances. In the game, Falmouth left 10 men on base and several times had a runner at third with fewer than two outs and did not deliver. In the end, though, it did not matter as the team pushed enough across to get the victory.

     The Commodores got things going in the first, plating a run right away. Leadoff man Brad Chalk (Clemson) singled to center and then stole second with one out. First baseman Brett Wallace (Arizona State) then drove in the game’s first run with a rope to right. Falmouth had a chance to really rough up Brewster starter Barry Enright (Pepperdine), but the club left the bases loaded.

     After leaving two in scoring position in the third, and then another at third in the fourth, the Commodores finally added to their lead in the fifth, thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Aja Barto (Tulane), who had two hits in the game. Barto drove in Warren McFadden (Tulane), who also had a pair of knocks in the win, to make it 2-0. The team then stole a run in the sixth without the benefit of a hit as Stan Widman (Clemson) was hit by a pitch prior to Chalk also getting plunked. Widman then went to third on a fly ball by Taylor Harbin (Clemson) and scored on a delayed double steal to make it a three-run game.

     Travis Sweet (Iowa) came on in relief in the seventh and ran into trouble. The reliever, who had worked the previous night, was unable to record out and left with the bases loaded. 

     Entering the game in a big-time jam, Brandon Gomes (Tulane), who hails from New Bedford, did his best David Blaine act as he wiggled his way out of the jam with minimal damage done. Gomes immediately induced a double-play ball, on which the only Brewster run scored, and then struck out the next man looking to put the fire out. He then worked a 1-2-3 eighth, setting things up for closer Sam Demel (Texas Christian), who retired the side in order for his third straight save.

     Hunt said the job done by Gomes in relief was key for the Commodores. “He did a great job... (Gomes) came in and shoved to tonight.”

     Tuesday evening, Falmouth made it two in a row over the lowly Bourne Braves, taking a 7-4 win on the strength of a six-run eighth inning rally, erasing a three-run deficit with aplomb.

     The recently arrived Clemson connection of Chalk, Harbin, and Widman proved huge for Falmouth as the troika played a pivotal role in the rally.

     With Falmouth down by three entering the frame, everything began to break the right way for the Commodores. Wallace led the inning off with a little fly ball to short that Cat Everett (Tulane) dropped, allowing the lead-off man to reach via an error. The next two men were then walked, loading the bases with no outs. 

     Falmouth made it 4-2 when a grounder off the bat of Barto plated Wallace. Then, after the next man struck out, Falmouth’s next five batters in a row all reached. 

     Jeremy Farrell (Virginia) walked to reload the bases, and then Widman made it 4-3 with a single to left. The big knock of the game then came off the bat of Chalk as he drilled a triple to the gap in left center, scoring two to make it 5-4 Falmouth. Harbin followed with an RBI single to give Falmouth a two-run cushion, and Wallace’s hit-and-run single then made it 7-4.

     Demel pitched the ninth for Falmouth, setting the side down in order for his second save.
Early on in the game, it looked like the Commodores were sunk as Bourne starter Eamon Portice (High Point) was nearly untouchable. Portice fanned 12 over six innings and allowed just two hits during his stint. The lone Commodores score against him came when McFadden was hit by a pitch, went to second on a wild pitch, to third on a hit batter and scored on another wild pitch. Infield hits by Wallace and Harbin were all the club managed against the starter other than that.

     But Bourne, which rode its first two homers of the season to a 4-1 lead, fell apart in the latter frames. The Commodores rode the relief pitching of Sweet to keep it close until they made their late push.
 
     Falmouth is back in action tonight with a home game at the Arnie Allen Diamond scheduled for 7 PM against Hyannis. The two teams then renew acquaintances the next day in Hyannis at McKeon Park at 5 PM. On Sunday, the Commodores will be home for a 5:30 PM game against the Chatham A’s and then Yarmouth-Dennis comes to town on Monday for a 5:30 PM first pitch.

By RICH MACLONE