Chatham, Mass. — As the United States celebrates its independence day, the Chatham Anglers take the field against the Orleans Firebirds, looking for an inspiring performance. Chatham (9-11) has dropped five of its past six games, including a 5-0 shutout to Orleans (12-8) Sunday night at Eldredge Park.

The date marks the beginning of heavy crowds pouring into Veterans Field as more and more people take in the 2016 Chatham Anglers; but, for A's manager John Schiffner, the intertwining of the Fourth of July and the CCBL plays a significant role in the life of Cape Cod summer.

“It’s baseball, America’s pastime,” said the manager contently. “Baseball, July 4th, hot dogs, mom’s apple pie, the American Flag – and I think it’s pretty special down here on the Cape.”

Hot Hitters

The Anglers have been tail spinning this past week, losing five of their last six including four consecutive losses between June 26 and July 1. Chatham has mustered up little offense since they began their worst week of the season, scoring just six runs in six games.

Chase Pinder of Clemson has been one of the few Anglers who has produced offensively, reaching base four times in ten at-bats. In Chatham’s 4-2 win over Harwich on Saturday, the outfielder went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Orleans’ hitting has contrarily been stellar in their past five contests as the Firebirds enter tonight’s contest the winners of five straight. Riley Adams has been driving the Orleans offense as of late, powering his way to a .500 batting average this past week. The catcher out of the University of San Diego has failed to reach base in only three games for the Firebirds this year. In Sunday’s contest, Adams was walked twice by Chatham’s Caleb Gilbert.      

Throwing Heat

Lincoln Henzman (0-1) toes the rubber for the Anglers today as the Louisville right-hander goes for his first win of the summer. In two relief appearances this season, Henzman has looked like two different pitchers and has yielded two opposite results.

In his first outing against the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, Henzman pitched one inning of no-hit, shutout baseball, helping the Anglers upended Y-D, 5-0. Four days later, versus the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, Henzman took the loss after being tagged for five runs on four hits – including two homeruns – in an inning and two-thirds.

The Firebirds will tout out Kirk McCarthy (2-0) to the mound, looking to keep the Chatham bats quiet for the second consecutive game. In three appearances for Orleans, McCarthy has started twice, winning both games and allowing two runs or less in each contest. The Southern Mississippi product has conceded just six hits total on the season while striking out 11 and issuing one walk.    

On the Horizon

The Anglers remain home at Veterans Field for the next two games as they host the Cotuit Kettleers Tuesday night at 7 p.m. before turning their attention to the Wareham Gatemen on Wednesday.  

Broadcast Information 

Anglers Extra Pregame begins today at 6:40 p.m. Tune in to hear Jake Eisenberg and Evan Stockton take you through the Catch of the Day and the Manager's Show before the first pitch. For the full broadcast of today’s game, go online to the Cape Cod Baseball Network or listen by telephone at 1-800-846-4700, code 3481. Visit Broadcast Central for more details.