Catfish show they can win close games, too

Of the 21 games played by the Cape Catfish this summer, only six have been decided by two runs or less, and at 19-2 on the summer, the Catfish haven't shown a propensity for losing very often, regardless of the score.

The Catfish proved on Friday that they could not only win a close game but execute late in the game in holding off a rally put on by the Jackson (Tenn.) Rockabillys, as Cape won 4-3 at Capaha Field in front of 1,012 fans.

“That is why we have won so much,” Catfish second baseman Kevin McCarthy said following the win. “We’ve beat up on teams, but when we don’t have it, we stay in it.”

The Catfish amazingly scored four runs on just four hits in the win.

Cape took a 1-0 lead in their initial at-bat on an RBI sacrifice fly by Brody Chrisman, which scored lead-off hitter Justin Carinci.

Carinci was batting in the one-hole for regular Chris Hall, who had to return to Atlanta for a family funeral.

The Rockabillys tied the game on a home run in the second inning off Catfish starter Dylan Peck, who improved to 4-0 on the summer.

Peck worked five innings and allowed just the one earned run, as he gave up five hits and three walks while striking out two.

“I tell all of our (pitchers),” Catfish pitching coach Jason Chavez said, “work well in the (strike) zone and pitch to soft contact.

“There are going to be more days than not, where you’re not going to be 100 percent. So, you’ve got to throw the pitch with what you are working with, basically.”

The Catfish have ranked in the top five teams defensively in the Prospect League this summer and did not commit an error in Friday’s win, which helps explain how a team can win on just four hits.

“If a pitcher doesn’t have his best stuff,” Chavez continued, “your best bet is to live low in the zone and hopefully get some ground balls and pop flies.”

Chrisman and Carinci teamed up to put the Catfish up 2-1 in the third inning, as Chrisman singled Carinci home.

In the seventh inning, McCarthy and Landon Goidsey each singled to bring home Tucker Stockman and Carinci, respectively to put Cape up 4-1.

The Rockabillys added an eighth inning, two-run home run off Cape reliever Camron Lewis.

Lewis threw a couple of innings and gave up two earned runs on two hits while walking none and striking out one.

Kole Turner also threw a couple of innings of middle relief for the Catfish. He struck out five and walked one, giving up one hit and no runs.

Carinci, Godsey, Chrisman, McCarthy, and Kolten Poorman each had one walk drawn while Stockman had two base on balls.

The victory was the fifth consecutive win for the Catfish, who are three wins (and/or) losses by O’Fallon or Thrillville away from clinching the first-half Prairie Land Division title, which would place the club in the postseason for the third time in four seasons as a franchise.

“This is one of those things where when you are in it every night,” McCarthy explained of the team’s success, “it doesn’t feel as crazy. But every now and then, I’ll be driving and think ‘We’re doing really well.’

“But it isn’t surprising. This is a really good team.”

The Catfish will travel to Danville (11-10) on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. before returning to Capaha Field on Tuesday against Jackson (7-13) at 6:35 p.m.