Melrose goes 1-2 in its past three games
Published in the August 7, 2015 edition
MIKE ADDESA gets ready to make a throw in Sunday’s game against the Wakefield Merchants. The Americans won that game by an 8-4 score at Walsh Field. (Donna Larsson Photo)
MELROSE — The Melrose Americans went 1-2 in their past three games as they try to hold on and secure a playoff berth in the Intercity League.
The Americans dropped a 12-2 game against the Arlington Trojans on Monday, Aug. 3 at Morelli Field which placed the two teams in a tie for seventh place in the Intercity league with identical 8-19-0 records at the time.
Prior to that, Melrose beat the Wakefield Merchants, 8-4, on Sunday, Aug. 2 at Walsh Field and lost to the Lexington Blue Sox by a 7-2 score on Wednesday, July 29 at Morelli Field. The Americans game against Reading which was scheduled to be played on Thursday, July 30 at Morelli Field was postponed due to rain and will rescheduled for Thursday, Aug. 6 (post deadline).
vs. Trojans, Aug. 3
The Americans were the away team in a makeup against the Trojans at Morelli Field. Arlington made itself right at home as it scored two runs in the first inning, one in the second, fourth in the fourth and five in the sixth.
Melrose, meanwhile, scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings as it had just six hits in the contest.
John Jennings had two hits, while Mike Addesa, Steve Passatempo, Ian Steckel and Anthony Licciardello each had one. Addesa, Passatempo, and Jennings each had a double.
Addesa and Passatempo scored a run each and Jennings and Steckel drove in the two runs. Also Steckel and Dan Cacciola both stole a base.
Cacciola and Licciardello drew the two walks surrendered by Arlington.
Kyle Autilio (0-1) went three and one-third innings for the Americans giving up seven runs on 10 hits while striking out five and walking two.
Mike Peters went an an inning and two-thirds giving up two hits.
Ryan Colbert and Andy Padarat pitched a third of an inning and two-thirds of a frame, respectively. Colbert gave up three runs (one earned) on one hit while walking two and striking out one. Padarat yielded two unearned runs on three hits while walking a batter.
vs. Merchants, Aug. 2
The Americans defeated the team above them in the Intercity League standings as they posted an 8-4 triumph at Walsh Field.
The Americans scored in their first time at bat when Chris Sharpe singled to right with one out before moving to second on a wild pitch. Addesa singled in Sharpe to make it 1-0. A strikeout followed and then a single but a ground ball ended the inning.
The Merchants tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Bobby Losanno led off with a triple to right. Scott Searles followed with a single to center that brought in Losanno to tie the game at 1-1. Searles was erased on a fielder’s choice and a fly out to center, a walk and a fielder’s choice rounded out the inning.
Melrose jumped back out in front with another run in the top of the second inning. Steckel led off with an infield single and then stole second. After a strikeout, Steckel took third on a wild pitch. He eventually crossed the plate to give the Americans a 2-1 advantage.
They added another run in the top of the third. With one out Addesa singled to center and then Passatempo was hit by a pitch from Merchants pitcher Christian Ferlan. Jennings reached on a fielder’s choice that erased Addesa at second. Austin Masel drew a walk to load the bases. Steckel then grounded to shortstop Mike Manoogian whose flip to second for an attempted force on Masel was late, leaving all runners safe and scoring Passatempo to put Melrose up 3-1 before a ground ball ended the inning.
Melrose extended its lead by one more run in the top of the fifth. Passatempo opened the inning with a single to left. Jennings followed with a single and both runners advanced on a ground out to first. After a fly out to left, Licciardello singled in Passatempo to make it 4-1.
The top of the sixth saw Melrose add another run. With one out, Sharpe and Addesa carved out consecutive singles. After a fly ball to center for the second out, Jennings hit a grounder that deflected off the second base bag, allowing Sharpe to score to put Melrose up 5-1.
The Merchants closed the gap to within a run in the bottom of the sixth. Searles led off with a single to right and then Mike Sorrentino followed with a single to center. Louis Tarantino laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners along. A wild pitch scored Searles and put Sorrentino on third, from where he scored on another wild pitch to make it 5-3. Joe Breen singled and then went to second on the third wild pitch of the inning. After a fly out to right, Manoogian doubled in Breen to make it 5-4 and then a fly out to left ended the sixth.
Melrose gave itself some breathing room with three more runs in the top of the seventh. Steckel led off with a single to center then stole second. Licciardello dropped down a bunt single to put runners at the corners. Autilio singled to bring in Steckel. Dan Cacciola sacrificed the runners over for the first out. With the infield in, Sharpe bounced a ball over the head of second baseman John Davison to score Licciardello and Autilio to put Melrose up 8-4 where it would stand.
Dillon Corliss (3-3) went five and two-thirds inning for the Americans. He gave up four runs on seven hits walking a batter. He also threw three wild pitches and hit a batter.
Brendan McDonough earned the save going one and one-third innings striking out a batter and hitting a batter. He also threw a wild pitch.
Ferlan (1-4) suffered the loss as he went seven innings giving up eight runs on 16 hits while walking two batters. He also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch.
vs. Lexington, July 29
The Americans were hurt by the one-man wrecking crew know as Mike Hart on July 29 at Morelli Field. Hart hit two home runs (one solo and one gran slam) and drove in five runs to lead the Blue Sox to the win.
Hart had three hits along with Kevin Davis. Kyle Adie, Ross Curley (two hits) and Dave Ahern accounted for the Blue Sox offense. Adie’s hit was a double.
Hart scored two runs, while Adie, Curley, Garrett Smith, Dan Graham and Davis each crossed the plate once. Ahern and Chris Ruocco each drove in a run as well.
Bill Christopher (1-0) pitched three and two-thirds innings of relief and picked up his first win of the season for the Blue Sox. He struck out seven and gave up three hits. He also threw a wild pitch.
Tony Annino went the first three and one-third innings giving up two runs on three hits while striking out four and walking three.
Masel and Passatempo drove in runs for Melrose. Masel and Passatempo each had a hit with Masel’s being a double.
Sharpe had three hits to lead the way, while Dave Center had a hit as well. Center’s hit was a double. Sharpe also stole a base.
Vinny Scifo and Sharpe scored the two runs. Scifo, Sharpe and Brian Carney all drew walks as well.
McDonough (1-2) started and took the loss for Melrose. He went four innings giving up five runs on eight hits. He also hit a batter.
Autilio pitched two innings giving up two runs (both unearned) on one hit while striking out one and hitting a batter.
Mike Andrews hurled one inning giving up one hit while striking out a batter. He also threw a wild pitch.
The Blue Sox scored one run in the fourth inning and sixth in the fifth. The Americans scored single runs in the first and third innings.
The Americans were scheduled to play the Trojans on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Morelli Field (post deadline) before the Bulldogs on Thursday. Melrose wraps up the regular season on Sunday against Arlington at 4 p.m. at Summer Street Field.
