Hyannis Mets Team Coverage 2009

HYANNIS - The rain came at an inopportune time for the Mets tonight. In the bottom of the sixth inning, with two men in scoring position lightning filled the sky and play was stopped. After a half hour delay it was called an official game resulting in a Hyannis loss. The loss snapped a three game win streak for Hyannis.

The weather was not the story of this game, however. Harwich starter Rob Gariano (Fairfield) produced the most dominant pitching performance Hyannis has faced this year. Gariano threw five and a third innings of shutout ball, striking out ten batters and allowing only three hits. He established his fastball early, working in an effective changeup and a great curveball. The only trouble he ran into was in the sixth inning when unfortunately for the Mets, the game was called. He allowed back to back singles to Elliot Soto (Creighton) and Trent Whitehead (East Carolina) who advanced to second and third base on a Nick Crawford (UAB) sacrifice bunt. With the Mets number three hitter Cody Hawn (Tennessee) stepping to the plate, the lightning and rain bailed out Gariano right on cue. Although the way Gariano was going on this night, he may not have needed it.

Hyannis starter Austin Hudson (Central Florida) takes the loss tonight. Hudson allowed three runs and scattered six hits through six innings. He allowed two runs in the second inning when he hit the Mariners' Phil Gosselin (Virginia) and walked second baseman Levi Michael (UNC). Gosselin scored from third base when David Herbeck (James Madison) grounded to third baseman Dustin Harrington whose throw was dropped by Dan Burkhardt, the catcher. Michael then came around to score on a Marcus Nidiffer (Kentucky) single making it 2-0 Harwich. The Mariners would score a third run in the sixth inning on a Levi Michael RBI single.

Hyannis looks to avoid the rain and losing two straight at Falmouth tomorrow night.