Lynn 15s offense shut down in EMass State Tourney opener

SAUGUS – The Greater Lynn 15-year-old Babe Ruth all-star team took on a hot day, but an even hotter pitcher on Friday evening at World Series Park. Braintree starter Scott Creedon turned in a stellar outing, allowing just five hits on the way to a complete game 3-0 shutout in both teams’ opening contest.View Photo GalleryOn the other side, Lynn’s Brandon Devin was fantastic in his own right, going the distance and allowing just eight hits. For the day, Devin surrendered just three runs while striking out four and walking just one but came out with the tough-luck loss.”Both pitchers were great tonight,” said Lynn manager Ron Gaudet following the loss. “Brandon pitched well enough to win, I thought, but there were some little mistakes behind him and little mistakes can sometimes make you lose games, but hats off to Braintree.”Braintree got off to a hot start, scoring two in its first at-bats off Devin. After back-to-back singles by Steven Whalen and Aidan Adams, Devin got Dino Dicienzo swinging before inducing Sean Casey into a foul popout to third.Kevin Troy came up with a clutch two-run double to deep left, plating two before he was cut down trying to stretch a triple. As it turned out, the quick start would be all Braintree needed as Creedon held the Lynn bats at bay.Creedon’s final line consisted of seven innings and nine strikeouts, including five that caught the Lynners gazing. The consistent righty also did not walk a batter as he pounded the strike zone all game long, keeping the Lynn hitters off balance with well-mixed curveballs.After the tough first, Devin was highly effective in his attempt to keep his team in the game. A 1-2-3 second preceded a two-strikeout third before some great defense bailed him out in the fourth. First, Devin got a sleek 5-4-3 double play ball with Ryan Borders and Joe Tardiff doing the honors.With men on first and third, Lynn got crafty as catcher Dan Hennessey came up firing to second looking to cut down a stealing Creedon. However, a heads-up Tardiff cut in front of the bag to corral the throw and send a laser home to nail Matt McGrath.The big play hinted a momentum swing, but Creedon snuffed out any change of pace quickly. The righty allowed just two hits over the final three frames, those being a single from Marques O’Neal and a scorching double by Andre Gaudet, his second two-bagger of the game.Creedon had strikeouts in six of the seven innings, punching out two hitters in the second, third and fifth. Not to be overlooked is the Braintree defense, which was rock-solid behind its pitcher, committing no errors and turning a double play in the first to quiet any thoughts of a rally.”We’ve faced some great pitchers this summer and Creedon was no different. He pitched an excellent game tonight,” said Gaudet. “Our offense has had some trouble with scoring this summer, but they played their hearts out and never gave up.”Lynn (0-1) gets right back to work on Saturday afternoon as it looks to break into the win column against Newton. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m.