Tyler Becker

Bravehearts Turn it Around for Victory after Slow Start

Andrew Roberts Bravehearts , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Despite a slow start, the Bravehearts took down the Westfield Starfires 7-4 on Friday night June 28.  They were led Angelo Baez’s 5-inning, 10 strikeout start and Riley Livingston’s 4 for 4 night.

Though it was hot, it was a good night for baseball, and the stadium was packed.  The Bravehearts were wearing special jerseys for Ghostbusters Night.   A couple of those jerseys were auctioned off during the game.  Bernie Carbo, an ex-Red Sox player on the 1975 American League champions, was in attendance.  I got the chance to interview him:

After the game there were fireworks for the nearly sold out stadium.  A good show to get everyone excited for the upcoming holiday.

Before the game, I caught up with leadoff hitter Mariano Ricciardi and assistant coach Adam Chase:

Krish Vyas, the team’s honorary captain, was in attendance.  He went on the field and in the clubhouse before the game, and spent the game with me and other Bravehearts media members in the press box.  Check out my interview with Krish about what he does for the team and how his role with Bravehearts all got started:

The Bravehearts started off slow.  They did load the bases twice during the first 3 innings, but they weren’t able to score a run in these innings.  The Starfires ended up striking first in the top of the 4th.  Star outfielder Thomas Joyce led off the inning with a single, and he advanced on a long single into the left field corner by Danny Crossen.  C Tommy Quinn hit a deep double that scored both runners to make it 2-0 Westfield.

But Worcester’s bats had been heating up, and it showed as the game progressed.  In the bottom of the 4th, Riley Livingston (who had already singled once), hit a solo shot into left center, making it a 1 run game.  The Bravehearts continued to rally their way back in the bottom of the 5th.  John Thrasher hit what looked to be a single into center field but he was able to stretch it to a double.  That allowed him to score on Mack Cheli’s RBI single and tie the game.  Tyler Becker followed with a deep shot into center for a double, putting both him and Cheli in scoring position.  Paul Coumoulos’ single drove them both in.  It was now 4-2 Bravehearts, and there was only one out.  The Bravehearts loaded the bases again with two outs thanks to another hit by Livingston and a walk by Nick Martin, but their bases loaded struggles continued as Ricciardi struck out to end the inning.

With Angelo Baez out of the game in the 6th, Thomas Joyce hit a moonshot, all the way to the Papa Gino’s sign in right.  But the Bravehearts still held the lead after this, and extended it when 3B Ben McNeill hit a 2-run dinger of his own into deep center.  But this wasn’t it for home runs.  Devin Kellogg hit one for Westfield in the 8th to make it 6-4 Worcester.

The Bravehearts extended their lead in the bottom of the inning with a pair of singles followed by an RBI ground out.  Bryce Hellgeth earned another save to seal the victory in the 9th.

I caught up with Ben McNeill, one of the game’s best hitters, after the game:

Riding a 3 game win streak, the Bravehearts are now above .500 with a record of 13-12.  This week, they travel to the North Shore on Monday and Nashua on Wednesday for a twin bill.  Will their win streak continue?

Dogs Bring Luck, Bravehearts Rally Past Blues

Andrew Roberts Bravehearts , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Last night with several dogs and their owners in the stands for the first of two Bark in the Park games, the Bravehearts were down 2-0 after 2 innings.  Though it took a few innings for Worcester to get going as warm-ups were shortened by downpours before game time, the team was able to rally their way to the lead in the 4th inning and hold that lead through the rest of the game.  Despite being held to just 4 hits, they ended up taking down the Bristol Blues 6-3, with Bryce Hellgeth earning the save for Worcester and Shawn Babineau earning the win.

Going into this game, the Bravehearts had lost 2 games in a row despite the return of star hitter Mack Cheli and shortstop Ben McNeill.  But in this game, everyone was settled in for the summer and contributed as the team was helped by having a full roster.  Just an hour before the game, it did not look good as it was pouring.  But the tarp was taken off the field soon before the original 6:35 PM start time and the grounds crew did an excellent job getting the field ready.

Even with the rain, a decent number of fans still showed up with their dogs for Bark in the Park night.  You can bring your dogs again on July 22nd for another Bark in the Park game.  I caught up with one dog owner and season ticket holder, Michael, who ran on the field with his dog after the 6th inning along with many kids.

I also interviewed C Jack Gardner, who caught the Bravehearts first ever team no-hitter on Opening Night this year .  Riley Livingston would catch tonight for Shawn Babineau (aka “Babs”) in this game, but Gardner was in the lineup as the DH.

You can also check out my pregame discussion with Bravehearts broadcaster Donny Porcaro:

It didn’t look good for Worcester early on.  The big hitting Blues lineup didn’t do much in the 1st inning, but in the second, the Blues had 1st and 2nd after a base hit to deep left followed by a bunt single.  Jordan Laske drove in both runs with a huge double.  However, Babineau got out of the inning with two consecutive outs.

In the 2nd, Cheli became the first Braveheart to get a hit in the game, and a Tyler Becker walk made it 1st and 2nd.  But the Bravehearts ended the inning on a double play that stranded both runners.  The team didn’t have another hit until the 4th inning, when the team made their comeback.

Blues starter Arjun Thakar was having trouble finding the plate, as he gave up 4 consecutive walks to make it 2-1 Bristol.  This was followed by another double play, but another run scored to tie the game.  A balk scored the go-ahead run while P.J. Barry, the next hitter, was up at bat.  After this, Barry crushed a home run into left field to extend the lead and knock Thakar out of the game after just 3 2/3 innings.  But Worcester wasn’t done.  Livingston walked during the next at bat, and though he was caught stealing with Nick Martin up, Martin returned to lead off the next inning with a home run of his own and give Worcester the 3-run lead.

Babineau left the game after 6 innings due to pitch count, and in the 7th, the Bravehearts did give up 1 more run.  Brandon Miller walked and stole 2nd against Worcester’s relief pitcher Chris Macca.  Though Macca struck out a second batter after the walk, Kyle Maves drove Miller in with a single to make it 5-3 Worcester.  Nolan Cloutier continued the rally attempt with a single of his own to make it 1st and 2nd.  Jordan Laske walked for the 2nd time that night.  He had not failed to reach base yet, and it was bases loaded with 2 outs for Danny Roth.  But Macca struck Roth out to get out of the jam to hold onto the lead.

The Bravehearts gave their bullpen some additional run support in the bottom of the inning.  Livingston walked again, and Mariano Ricciardi got on base for the first time of the night with a walk of his own.  There were runners on 1st and 2nd for Jakob Sessa, but also two outs.  Sessa has been a performing very well for Worcester this season.  Going into this game, he was batting .350.  But he was hitless in this game until he smoked an RBI single to extend Worcester’s lead back to 3 runs.  Angelo Baez and Hellgeth pitched the final two innings for Worcester and helped secure the 6-3 Bravehearts victory, with Baez maintaining a 0.00 ERA on the season through 5 appearances.

I caught up with P.J. Barry on his home run after the game:

Stay tuned for more of my Worcester Bravehearts coverage with this Sunday’s afternoon game against the North Shore Navigators at 4PM.  For the remainder of the week, the Bravehearts will be on the road for 4 games: two in Bristol, one against North Shore, and one in Pittsfield.

 

Nashua Silver Knights @ Worcester Bravehearts Recap

Andrew Roberts Bravehearts , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This past Thursday, I began my summer internship with the Worcester Bravehearts and attended their Opening Night against the Nashua Silver Knights.  The team ended up tossing the first no-hitter in team history.  Check out my video recap below alongside a transcript:

This past Thursday, May 30th, the Bravehearts opened their season at home. Before the game started, I had the chance to speak with Manager Alex Dion and leadoff Hitter John Thrasher.

Even with several players out of the lineup because their spring seasons are still ongoing, the Bravehearts kicked off their season historically strong, tossing a combined no-hitter against the Nashua Silver Knights. This was the first no-hitter in the team’s 6-year history. Shawn Babineau started off the no-hitter with 6 shutout innings, and he was perfect through 5 innings. The bullpen gave up 2 runs due to walks and errors but without giving up a hit . Worcester got out to an early 5-0 which was more than enough with the pitching staff in a groove.

Keith Foulke, the 2004 World Series-winning Red Sox closer, was the night’s special guest and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. I got the chance to interview Keith on top of the press box after he tossed free t-shirts to fans in the middle of the 2nd inning.

In the bottom of the 2nd after the t-shirt toss, the Bravehearts got on board with a 2-0 lead. A trio of walks loaded the bases, and Jakob Sessa drove in two runs on a double to deep right center.

Though it was a combined no-hitter, Jack Gardner stepped up in this game, both offensively and defensively catching all nine innings of the no hitter. I spoke with Jack after the game.

Gardner contributed to Worcester’s hot start in the third inning with a base hit. Cleanup hitter Paul Coumoulos drove in the runner on third, Tyler Becker, on a groundout to give Worcester the 3-0 lead. Aidan Wilde’s single drove Gardner in to make it 4-0. The fifth run was scored on a sac fly by DH C.J. McKennitt.

After the game, I also caught up with manager Alex Dion and general manager Dave Peterson.

Despite on and off rain all night, it was an exciting Opening Night, and an amazing start to the Bravehearts season.