Earn back-to-back wins over Watertown before Lexington setback
Published in the July 17, 2015 edition
MELROSE — The Melrose Americans doubled their win total this past week as they posted a 2-1 record in Intercity League play. The Americans snapped a seven-game losing streak with back-to-back wins over the Watertown Reds before having its modest surge stopped by the Lexington Blue Sox.
The Americans dropped a 6-2 game against Lexington on Monday, July 13 at Lexington High School. The loss came after Melrose recorded wins over Watertown on Wednesday, July 8 by a 2-0 score at Victory Field and on Friday, July 10 by an 8-4 tally at Morelli Field.
Melrose is now 4-10-0 in the ICL standings.
vs. Blue Sox, July 13
Melrose and Lexington were tied at 2-2 before the Blue Sox tallied four runs in the sixth which proved to be the difference. Lexington also scored single runs in the first and third frames.
Melrose, meanwhile, scored a run in the second and a run in the third.
John Jennings led the way for the Americans with two hits while Mac Singleton, Chris Sharpe, Steve Passatempo and Harrison Smoske each had one hit. Passatempo’s hit was a double.
Singleton and Passatempo scored the two runs which were driven in by Jennings and Austin Masel.
Singleton, Masel, Anthony Licciardello and Dan Cacciola drew the four walks given up by Lexington pitching.
Mike Peters (0-1) pitched five innings giving up six runs (two earned) on seven hits while walking three batters. He also hit a batter.
Christian Rosati hurled one inning giving up two hits and walking a batter.
Alex Voitik’s bases loaded walk drove in the winning run in the sixth. Ross Curley drove in the final two runs with a single.
Curley had two hits, while Kyle Adie and Dan Graham also had two hits each. Dorlan Rojas, Garrett Smith and Voitik each had one hit. Adie and Smith had the extra base hits with doubles.
Adie, Mike Hart, Rojas, Smith, Kevin Davis and Voitik each scored a run. Curley and Graham both had two RBIs, while Voitik and Dave Ahern each drove in a run.
Also reaching base by walks were Adie, Graham, Rojas and Voitik.
Nick Godfroy (1-0) pitched four innings in relief for the win for Lexington. He gave up two hits, walked four and struck out three. Godfroy also hit a batter.
Jimmy Hill hurled the first three innings giving up two runs on four hits while striking out four and walking none. He also threw two wild pitches.
vs. Watertown Reds, July 10
The Americans not only posted their second straight win but also beat Watertown in successive contests with their 8-4 triumph on Friday, July 10 at Morelli Field.
Melrose scored one run in the third inning, three in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the sixth. The Reds, meanwhile, scored single runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
The Americans had 12 total with Masel leading the way with three hits.
Singleton, Sharpe and Jennings had two hits each. One of Sharpe’s hits was a double.
Mike Addesa, Passatempo and Smoske each had one hit.
Addesa and Jennings each scored two runs, while Singleton, Sharpe, Passatempo and Masel crossed the plate once. Jennings and Smoske both drove in two runs, while Singleton, Vinny Scifo and Masel each had one RBI.
Sharpe, Addesa and Jennings drew the three walks given up by Watertown pitching.
Gianni Esposito (2-1) hurled four and two-thirds innings to earn the victory. He gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits while walking four and striking out four. He also hit a batter.
Rosati hurled an inning and a third of relief giving up one run on three hits while striking out one and walking one.
Mike Andrews pitched the seventh inning striking out two batters.
The Reds also used three pitchers in the contest.
Chris Hendrix (1-1) went three innings and was reached for four runs on five hits while walking two, striking out one and hitting a batter.
JJ Branch hurled the next two and two-thirds innings of relief. Branch was touched up for four runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out three batters.
Juan Guzman went a third of a frame and had a strikeout and hit a batter.
Sean Callahan Montague had three hits to lead the Reds, while Mac Jacobson, Justin Forman and Matt Bishop each had two hits and Kevin Kelley had one. Forman homered in the contest and Kelley hit a double.
Kyle LaVigne, Jacobson, Forman and Steve Tramontozzi scored the four runs. Dan Chaisson, Forman and Bishop knocked in a run each.
Tramontozzi walked twice, while Callahan Montague, Chaisson and Kelley each drew one free pass.
vs. Watertown, July 8
Melrose ended its losing streak with a 2-0 triumph over the Reds at Victory Field. The Americans plated both runs they needed in the fourth inning.
Dillon Corliss (1-3) went six and two-thirds innings to earn the victory. Corliss surrendered four hits while walking four and striking out two. He also hit a batter.
Andrews earned his first save as he went one-third of an inning and struck out a batter.
The Americans had eight hits with Addesa and Jennings leading the way with two apiece. Singleton, Sharpe, Scifo and Masel had the other hits. Scifo also stole a base.
Singleton and Masel scored the two runs. Addesa drove in both runs with one of his hits being a double.
Aric Dama (2-1) went five and two-thirds innings giving up two runs on six hits while striking out five for the Reds.
Branch pitched a third of an inning and gave up one hit. Cal Carroll went one complete frame giving up a hit and striking out a batter.
Chaisson had three hits and Mike Samko had one hit. Samko also walked twice and Will Brennan and Kelley walked once.
The Americans played the Lexington Blue Sox on July 15 at Morelli Field (post deadline) and Andre Chiefs on July 16 at Morelli (post deadline). Melrose faces the Reading Bulldogs on Friday, July 17 at 8 p.m. at Endicott College. The Americans next home game is Sunday, July 19 when they host the Somerville Thunder at 4 p.m. at Morelli Field.
