Falmouth, Mass. – It was an incredible night for the Orleans Cardinals who not only snapped a five-game losing streak but also clinched the Eastern Division regular season title with a win.

The 5-0 defeat of Falmouth was the fifth shutout thrown by the Cards this season and guarantees that the Cardinals will have home-field advantage throughout the duration of the playoffs.

RHP Matt Thomson (San Diego) was the “stopper” tonight, putting a stop to the losing streak with a spectacular performance. The 6-foot-4 right-hander pitched eight scoreless innings. He allowed just five hits and struck out a season-high seven batters.

The game was scoreless through six as Thomson was in a pitcher’s duel with Falmouth RHP Jorge Reyes (Oregon State). Orleans finally broke the tie in the seventh, however, when OF Angelo Songco (Loyola Marymount) teed off on his seventh home run of the year. It sailed well over the field fence down the right-field line and gave the Cardinals some momentum.

Songco’s shot was followed by a four-run eighth. 2B Matt Bowman (Nevada) drove in two with a double to left-center that plated 3B Mike Murphy (Maryland) and OF Gary Brown (Cal State Fullerton).

A few hitters later, SS Michael Olt (Connecticut) smoked a double to a similar spot in left-center that brought in two more Cardinals runs.

Thomson continued his dominance and preserved his new five-run lead by striking out the leadoff man in the eighth. He surrendered a single but managed to pick up two more outs that ended his evening.

LHP Adam Wilk (Long Beach St.) came on for the ninth. After a walk and a pair of singles, the bases were loaded. Wilk bore down, though, and struck out the next two hitters to win the game, keep the shutout in tact and lock up the Eastern Division for the Cards.

The contest began 33 minutes late due to a rain-delay. It’s the third time in as many games that the Cardinals have had the start of a game delayed.

The win gives Orleans 24 victories on the year and surpasses last season’s mark of 23. It also guarantees them home-field advantage for the playoffs. The first game of the divisional round will take place at Eldredge Park on Saturday, August 9th at 7:00pm EDT. Their opponent is to be determined.

With just three games to play, Orleans is three games up on Hyannis and Cotuit in the race for the best overall record in the league. If the teams finish in a tie, the Cardinals will win the league’s tie-breaker based on the Eastern Division winning the All-Star Game.

The Cards will finish out their season series with the Commodores tomorrow evening when Falmouth returns the trip to Orleans. RHP Kyle Smith (Kent State) is slated to pitch for the Cardinals. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm EDT