By Zac Vierra
Everything was working for the Braves in an impressive 5-0 win over the first place Harbor Hawks Sunday at Doran Park.
Chris Pickering (URI) got the start for the Braves and looked good pitching 5.2 shutout innings allowing seven hits while striking out four and walking none. Through three starts, Pickering has allowed only one earned run in 16.2 innings pitched. He has been the most consistent starter for the Braves this season and is proving to be someone Harvey Shapiro can rely on to keep the team in the game.
Travis Jankowski (Stony Brook) had a great game for Bourne. He threw out a runner at third to end the top of the first and lead off the bottom of the inning with triple and scored on Garrett Canizaro's RBI groundout. Jankowski would later add an RBI single to give the Braves a 3 zip lead. Travis has really been swinging the bat well as of late and his combination of contact and speed makes him the perfect leadoff hitter. His average has jumped up to .308 after a slow start and after he was demoted to the ninth hole for a few games; it looks like Jankowski has cemented his spot as the leadoff man.
Zach Alvord (Auburn) hit his first homerun of the season in the third inning to left center. The solo shot was a towering blast, one that did not look like it was leaving the park off the bat but kept carrying and carrying until it landed over the fence. Alvord has had flashes of power during batting practice regularly pulling bombs to left. Although Alvord has shown great potential with the bat, his defense has been shaky. He has a team leading 5 errors including two on Sunday, one on a throw and one on a ball that got under his glove. You have to wonder if his poor defense could limit his playing time, although there is always the option of playing Alvord at DH, which would keep his bat in the lineup.
The Braves bullpen looked good in the win. John Farrell (William & Mary) relieved Pickering in the top of the 6th with runners on second and third. He quickly got out of the jam getting a groundball to first. He got into some trouble in the 7th after a pair of hit batters and an error loaded the bases, but he got a flyball to left to end the inning. Kevin Brady (Clemson) pitched well in the eighth striking out a pair. He looks like he has the type of stuff to be the 8th inning man for the Braves.
After Colin Kish (Florida Southern) gave the Braves some insurance with a two RBI single in the 8th, the closer, RJ Alvarez (FAU), came in and shut the door yet again. Alvarez pitched a one-two-three inning with a pair of strikeouts. He was throwing in the mid 90s and the Harbor Hawk hitters had trouble catching up to the heat. Alvarez's fastball is just filthy. It has late life and hitters just can't seem to touch it. He doesn't throw much breaking stuff but when the fastball is so good, there is no reason to throw any other pitch. Right now Alvarez is blowing away hitters like Jonathan Papelbon when he first became closer for the Red Sox, which is quite fitting since Alvarez's intro song is now Shipping Up to Boston.
Player of the day: Travis Jankowski 2-3 RBI R great throw to third
This is a tough one as it was a great team effort by the Braves. There were contributions by many different players on offense and the pitching was great. Jankowski really changed the momentum early with the great throw and the leadoff triple which allowed the Braves to get the on the board early. His single RBI single was a clutch two out hit which gave Bourne a nice 3 nothing cushion.
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