Duffy delivers as Bourne takes a 1-0 series lead over Brewster in Cape League finals

André Simms, Cape Cod Times
·4 min read

The Bourne Braves took Game One of the Cape Cod Baseball League Championship series with a 3-0 win over the Brewster Whitecaps Wednesday.

I mentioned in my preview of this series that a key component for the Braves' success would be limiting Brewster's explosive offense. Canisius University's Matt Duffy and Wake Forest's Seth Keener combined to do just that, spinning a six-hit shutout to put the Braves one win away from Cape League glory.

It started with Duffy. Having only been activated on July 16, Duffy had only made four regular-season appearances for the Braves, all out of the bullpen. In that time, he amassed two saves, didn't allow an earned run and struck out eight over eight innings of work.

More: 2022 Cape League Championship Preview: Everything you need to know about the teams

Pitching cooled Brewster defense

His longest outing of the summer prior to Wednesday night's six-inning effort was a three-inning appearance against Wareham on July 21. Duffy, however, was a starter by trade at school and Bourne head coach Scott Landers knew he could trust him deep into the game.

Bourne starter Matt Duffy delivers against Brewster in Wednesday's game in Bourne.
Bourne starter Matt Duffy delivers against Brewster in Wednesday's game in Bourne.

"We got him halfway through the summer, so he's fairly fresh," said Landers. "His pitch count was down considerably ... Through five innings he was at 58 pitches or something like that so six wasn't too much, too strenuous on him."

Duffy worked six innings and only allowed four total baserunners. The Brewster offense, which came into the game red-hot, was instantly cooled by the righty. He faced just two over the minimum, while protecting the slim 1-0 lead the Braves spotted him in the bottom of the first.

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The Braves were not without chances to extend the lead early on. They had the bases loaded in the first inning, only plating the single run, and had two runners on with only one out in the second inning.

"You've got to play the situation better," Landers said about the missed opportunities. "We're striking out or hitting a ground ball when we need a fly ball or a double in the gap."

Matt Shaw of Bourne arrives at third with a triple against Brewster in the seventh bringing in a run during Wednesday's game in Bourne.
Matt Shaw of Bourne arrives at third with a triple against Brewster in the seventh bringing in a run during Wednesday's game in Bourne.

It mattered not in the end, with Duffy keeping Brewster quiet. Landers then handed the ball to Keeners, who pitched the last three frames to earn a nine-out save. Keener started the season on a temporary contract and steadily became one of Bourne's best options this summer.

"It's awesome. I love the fact that my coaches trust me," Keener said about getting the ball in a crucial moment. "That alone makes me feel good."

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Bourne added two runs in seventh

His job was made slightly easier in after the bottom of the seventh inning. The Braves added two insurance runs to extend their lead to three. The first came across when Maryland product and Cape League MVP Matt Shaw tripled to right-center field, scoring Alabama's Bryce Eblin.

Vanderbelt teammates Davis Diaz of Brewster and Alan Espinal of Bourne share a moment after Espinal safely arrives at second during Wednesday's game in Bourne.
Vanderbelt teammates Davis Diaz of Brewster and Alan Espinal of Bourne share a moment after Espinal safely arrives at second during Wednesday's game in Bourne.

Shaw came home to score in the next at-bat when North Carolina's Mac Horvath hit a sacrifice fly. With his RBI and two runs scored, the MVP accounted for all of the Braves offense Wednesday night. It was his most impactful game of the postseason thus far. Shaw entered the day with a .125 average in the playoffs.

"That's baseball. It comes and goes," Shaw said. "You line out and then sometimes it'll fall. Tonight it fell and hopefully it keeps falling for tomorrow and we'll take home a championship."

Brewster first baseman David Mendham reaches for the throw as Matt Shaw of Bourne dives back to first during Wednesday's game in Bourne.
Brewster first baseman David Mendham reaches for the throw as Matt Shaw of Bourne dives back to first during Wednesday's game in Bourne.

Working with a three-run lead, Keener navigated around some late trouble to seal the victory for the Braves. It capped a strong performance to take control of the series and hand Brewster its first postseason loss since 2018.

More: 2022 Cape League Championship Preview: Everything you need to know about the teams

"Both of them pitched outstanding," Landers said. "Those guys pitched their butts off, and it started by getting ahead of hitters and not walking anyone."

The win puts the Braves on the brink of a championship. Game two is scheduled for Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Stony Brook Field. 

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Bourne Braves one win away from Cape Cod Baseball League title