Orleans Cardinals

Smith Pitches Cards to Win

July 13, 2008

Orleans, Mass. – Coming off his worst outing of the summer, RHP Kyle Smith (Kent State) pitched a six inning gem tonight and was the winning pitcher in a 3-2 win over Bourne. He struck out eight while allowing just one hit and holding the Braves scoreless.

Smith struggled mightily last week, lasting just 2.2 innings against a stingy Yarmouth-Dennis lineup. His teammates bailed him out, though, and came from behind to defeat the Red Sox 10-7 on the road. Tonight, it was Smith’s turn to return the favor.

“I really wasn’t happy with myself after last week’s performance. I buckled down this week and just made sure I worked on all the little things. I had good fastball command and I think that is part of keeping things simple. Sometimes you get out of whack but if you just go back to the basics, it’s the easiest way to go,” Smith said.

He also added that his slider was better than it has been all summer tonight. Smith left the game with a 3-0 lead thanks to some timely hits and a long ball.

DH Nate Freiman (Duke) blasted his second home run of the season, and his second in the past week, with a solo shot in the second. It went well beyond the left-field fence and landed in the parking lot behind the wall.

The other two runs were scored on base hits by 2B Kyle Spraker (Loyola Marymount) and SS Cole Figueroa (Florida).

Once Smith turned the game over to his bullpen, however, Bourne started to put more balls in play. LHP Elliot Glynn (UCONN) tossed 0.2 of a shutout inning. RHP Brad Gemberling (Princeton) came in to pick up the final out of the seventh but ran into some trouble in the eighth. Gemberling allowed four hits, two of them infield pokes, and left the game with the bases loaded and two outs.

The Cardinals called on LHP Justin Earls (Georgia) who pitched them out of a jam on Friday against Harwich. With a two run lead and the tying run on second, Earls hit the first batter he faced to let another run score. He buckled down, though, and induced an inning ending fly-out.

Without their closer, RHP Kyle Kamppi (Georgia Southern), for the rest of the summer, the Cardinals turned to an unfamiliar arm. RHP/OF Alex Hassan (Duke), who began the game in right-field but has experience closing games at school, was called on to shut the door in the ninth. Hassan did just that, pitching a perfect frame and preserving the one run lead for a Cardinals win.

Kamppi was let go by the team for violating team rules and will not return this summer. Hassan not only picked up the save tonight but is expected to retain the closer’s role for the remainder of the season.

Hassan, Spraker and OF Gary Brown (Cal State Fullerton) all turned in two-hit games. Brown also stole two bases giving him a total of eight this year.

The win for the Cardinals was their first over Bourne this season. Orleans had previously dropped the last two games against the Braves but have now defeated every team in the league at least once this summer. The first place Cardinals will travel to Chatham tomorrow to make-up a game that was postponed on July 5^th. Orleans will send RHP Martin Viramontes (Loyola Marymount) to the mound and look to increase their four-point division lead.

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Home Cards News Game Day Central Roster Statistics Coaching Staff Sounds of the Game Clinics Volunteer Alumni Contact	Smith Pitches Cards to Win July 13, 2008 Orleans, Mass. – Coming off his worst outing of the summer, RHP Kyle Smith (Kent State) pitched a six inning gem tonight and was the winning pitcher in a 3-2 win over Bourne. He struck out eight while allowing just one hit and holding the Braves scoreless. Smith struggled mightily last week, lasting just 2.2 innings against a stingy Yarmouth-Dennis lineup. His teammates bailed him out, though, and came from behind to defeat the Red Sox 10-7 on the road. Tonight, it was Smith’s turn to return the favor. “I really wasn’t happy with myself after last week’s performance. I buckled down this week and just made sure I worked on all the little things. I had good fastball command and I think that is part of keeping things simple. Sometimes you get out of whack but if you just go back to the basics, it’s the easiest way to go,” Smith said. He also added that his slider was better than it has been all summer tonight. Smith left the game with a 3-0 lead thanks to some timely hits and a long ball. DH Nate Freiman (Duke) blasted his second home run of the season, and his second in the past week, with a solo shot in the second. It went well beyond the left-field fence and landed in the parking lot behind the wall. The other two runs were scored on base hits by 2B Kyle Spraker (Loyola Marymount) and SS Cole Figueroa (Florida). Once Smith turned the game over to his bullpen, however, Bourne started to put more balls in play. LHP Elliot Glynn (UCONN) tossed 0.2 of a shutout inning. RHP Brad Gemberling (Princeton) came in to pick up the final out of the seventh but ran into some trouble in the eighth. Gemberling allowed four hits, two of them infield pokes, and left the game with the bases loaded and two outs. The Cardinals called on LHP Justin Earls (Georgia) who pitched them out of a jam on Friday against Harwich. With a two run lead and the tying run on second, Earls hit the first batter he faced to let another run score. He buckled down, though, and induced an inning ending fly-out. Without their closer, RHP Kyle Kamppi (Georgia Southern), for the rest of the summer, the Cardinals turned to an unfamiliar arm. RHP/OF Alex Hassan (Duke), who began the game in right-field but has experience closing games at school, was called on to shut the door in the ninth. Hassan did just that, pitching a perfect frame and preserving the one run lead for a Cardinals win. Kamppi was let go by the team for violating team rules and will not return this summer. Hassan not only picked up the save tonight but is expected to retain the closer’s role for the remainder of the season. Hassan, Spraker and OF Gary Brown (Cal State Fullerton) all turned in two-hit games. Brown also stole two bases giving him a total of eight this year. The win for the Cardinals was their first over Bourne this season. Orleans had previously dropped the last two games against the Braves but have now defeated every team in the league at least once this summer. The first place Cardinals will travel to Chatham tomorrow to make-up a game that was postponed on July 5^th. Orleans will send RHP Martin Viramontes (Loyola Marymount) to the mound and look to increase their four-point division lead. (Unofficial Box Score)