Gulls Top Waves to Open Pell Bridge Series
Gulls Top Waves to Open Pell Bridge Series
WAKEFIELD, RI – In the first of seven matchups this season against their in-state rivals, the Ocean State Waves fell short against the Newport Gulls 2-1 to drop to 2-3 on the season.
It was another classic pitchers’ duel to begin the evening, as both starting pitchers in Ocean State’s Brooks Ey and Newport’s Dominic Perachi downed the first three batters of the order and combined for seven strikeouts through the first two innings.
The Gulls would get on the scoreboard first in the third inning of action. After an error put Luke Beckstein on first, a pair of hits helped load the bases before Beckstein made his way back home thanks to an RBI by Sam Kulasingam.
Beckstein continued to get it done for the Gulls two innings later. This time reaching on an error, a Josh Kuroda-Grauer sacrifice fly gave him his second run of the day to give Newport a 2-0 lead.
In the final two innings, Ocean State threatened to cut into the Gull lead. With only four outs left to spare, Max Johnson walked before Khyree Miller gave the Waves his second hit of the day to push Johnson into scoring position at first. However, a strikeout from Gulls’ reliever John Lumpinski got Newport out of the jam.
The Waves continued to put up a fight in the ninth. Brodey Heaton led off the inning with a walk and Kyle Maves ran in his place, quickly picking up a pair of stolen bases to put Ocean State within 90 feet of their first run. Maves would finish the job thanks to a base hit from Jake Studley, but it wouldn’t be enough to secure the comeback. A pair of strikeouts left the tying run stranded to give the Waves their first home loss of the summer.
Inside the Box Score:
Brooks Ey and Nick Payero combined for seven strikeouts over the first six innings, with Ey recording 7 K’s and Payero striking out another three batters in one inning of relief.
Khyree Miller and Jake Studley each led the way with two hits, while Pete Ciuffreda and Max Johnson both had one.
Miller recorded his second double of the season while Studley picked up an RBI.
Kyle Maves scored the lone run of the night and stole two bases running in place of Brodey Heaton in the ninth.
Max Johnson also stole a base.
Up Next:
The Waves go back on the road Sunday in an early evening rematch with the North Shore Navigators at Fraser Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.
