Chatham, Mass. — With two games remaining in the regular season, the Chatham Anglers are looking to leapfrog the Brewster Whitecaps for the final playoff spot in the East Division. In order to do so, Chatham must win one more game than the Whitecaps in the season’s final two contests. Tonight at Veterans Field, the Anglers will try to win the first of back-to-back games against the Orleans Firebirds.

Chatham (16-25-1) enters the contest rolling, after blowing out the Falmouth Commodores last night 9-3. The Anglers have won two of their last three contests, dropping a one-run nail biter to Cotuit on Sunday. In that three game stretch Chatham has scored 15 runs while giving up six.

The Firebirds (19-22-1) come to town with a 3-2 record in their past five games, most recently falling to the Wareham Gatemen 5-4 on Monday.

At the Plate: DJ Artis recorded three hits in yesterday’s win, pushing his batting average to a team-leading .284. In his past four contests, Artis is hitting at a .400 average, thanks to six hits in 15 at-bats. In that time frame, the Liberty Flame has scored five runs while driving in one.

Artis has reached base in eleven consecutive games dating back to July 12 against Bourne. Since recording two hits at Orleans on July 15, Artis has notched 16 hits, scored 10 runs, and has been held hitless just twice.

Orleans has relied on the strength of Garrett Benge in the last week, as the Oklahoma State sophomore has reached base eight times in 15 plate appearances. Entering tonight’s contest on a five-game hitting streak, Benge has notched seven hits, including a double, since July 24 while scoring a run and driving in another.

On the Rubber: Lincoln Henzman (1-2) toes the rubber for the Anglers today, searching for his first win since July 4. In that outing, the Louisville right-hander tossed five and two-thirds innings of one-run baseball as Chatham bested the Firebirds 6-3. Henzman struck out a season-high eight batters in the affair.

In Henzman’s last two appearances, the six-foot-two sophomore has allowed three earned runs apiece while striking out eight batters and issuing three walks. The Anglers have won both contests by scores of 4-3 and 5-4.

Brooks Wilson (0-1) opposes Henzman today, as the Stetson University southpaw makes his second start for the Firebirds. In his only other appearance in the CCBL, Wilson took the loss despite allowing one earned run across two innings on July 29.      

As a sophomore this spring for the Hatters, Wilson compiled a 5-6 record to go with his 2.90 ERA. Wilson tossed a complete game shutout against the Citadel on April 2, striking out 11 while walking two.

Down the Road: The Anglers finish out the regular season by heading to Eldredge Park tomorrow at 7 p.m.  

Broadcast Information

Make sure to tune in at 6:40 p.m. today for the Anglers Extra Pregame Show on the Cape Cod Baseball Network. Evan Stockton will introduce you to his Catch of the Day while Jake Eisenberg sits down with manager John Schiffner. 

The full broadcast of today’s game is available online and over the phone at 1-800-846-4700, code 3481. Visit Broadcast Central for more details.