Blanked 4-0 for sixth straight setback
Published in the July 23, 2015 edition
WALTHAM — Frankly, the Wakefield Merchants have seen enough of the Watertown Reds.
The Merchants faced the Reds for the fourth time in the past nine days and suffered their fourth defeat against the Intercity League playoff bound Watertown club. The latest defeat was a 4-0 setback last night at Bentley University.
Wakefield (7-13-1) suffered its sixth straight loss and four of those have come at the hand of the Reds. Also, the Merchants lost to Watertown for the third time in three days after dropping both contests in a home doubleheader on Sunday at Walsh Field.
The only solace the Merchants have is that they remained in fifth place in the ICL standing with the Melrose Americans having lost night as well by a 15-5 score against the Arlington Trojans. The Americans are 7-13-0 in the standings and are a point behind Wakefield.
Watertown, meanwhile, increased its 17-6-0 as it is now half a game out of first place.
The Merchants had six hits while the Reds carved out nine. The difference is Wakefield was unable to come up with the clutch hits to plate runs.
Mike Sorrentino had two hits to lead Wakefield, while Scott Searles, Clay Yianacopolus, John Davison and BJ Neil each had one hit. Neil also had a stolen base and Louis Tarantino drew the lone walk surrendered by Reds’ pitching.
Darren Bisso (2-1) pitched six innings giving up four runs (two earned) on nine hits to be handed his first loss of the season. The right-hander walked four and struck out three.
Watertown starter Jhonneris Mendez (4-1) went five innings to earn the win. Mendez gave up two hits while striking out four and walking one.
Jonathan Bishop and Cal Carroll each hurled an inning of relief for the Reds. Both gave up two hits. Bishop also had a strikeout.
At the plate, Mike Samko, Pete Burgio and Ryan Pocock led the way with two hits apiece for Watertown. Also getting hits were Kyle LaVigne, Matt Bishop and Kevin Kelley.
Pocock had a double, while LaVigne stole a base. LaVigne, Pocock, Bishop and Steve Tramontozzi each drew walks as well.
Burgio, Bishop, Tramontozzi and Kelley each scored a run, while Samko, Will Brennan and Kelley had the RBIs.
The Reds scored three runs in the second and one in the sixth to account for their four runs.
Wakefield hopes to end its losing streak when it takes on the Arlington Trojans on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Summer Street Field in Arlington.
The Merchants then play two on Sunday when they travel to Endicott Colllege at 1:30 p.m. to take on the Reading Bulldogs before returning home for a 5 p.m. game against the Andre Chiefs at Walsh Field.
