Published in the July 15, 2016 edition

KEVIN KELLEY makes a throw during the Melrose Americans game against the Wakefield Merchants last Friday night. Melrose dropped a 6-5 game in eight innings. The Americans posted a 1-3 record in their past four games with all three losses coming in extra innings. (Donna Larsson Photo)

KEVIN KELLEY makes a throw during the Melrose Americans game against the Wakefield Merchants last Friday night. Melrose dropped a 6-5 game in eight innings. The Americans posted a 1-3 record in their past four games with all three losses coming in extra innings. (Donna Larsson Photo)

MELROSE — The Melrose Americans were involved in four close games with three of them going extra innings this past week in Intercity League play, but only earned one victory despite their efforts.

The Americans posted a 4-2 triumph over the Watertown Reds on Sunday, July 10 at Victory Field. The win was sandwiched between two 6-5 losses to the Wakefield Merchants and Andre Chiefs on Friday, July 8 at Morelli Field and Monday, July 11 at Maplewood Field. The other loss was a 2-1 setback against the Reading Bulldogs on Wednesday, July 6 at Morelli.

Melrose is 6-10-1 on the season after 17 games.

vs. Andre Chiefs, July 11

The Americans came up short in a nine inning thriller against the Andre Chiefs at Maplewood Field on Monday night.

Melrose scored three runs in the third inning and two in the fourth. The Chiefs, meanwhile, plated a run in the first, three in the fourth and one in the fifth to the game at 5-5.

Christian Rosati (2-2) took the loss in relief going three and third innings giving up one run on two hits while walking four and striking out two.

Shawn Smeglin pitched the first three and two-thirds innings being reached for four runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out six and walking three. He also threw a wild pitch.

Brendan McDonough hurled an inning and two-thirds giving up one run on two hits.

Offensively the Americans had eight hits with Tom Petry, Nick Herzog and Rosati leading the way with three. However the big blow was delivered by Isaiah Berg who clubbed a three-run home run.

Getting the other other hit was Austin Masel. Masel also stole a base.

Petry scored two runs, while Masel, Herzog and Berg each crossed the plate once. Petry and Rosati each drove in a run as well.

Masel, Petry, Berg and Anthony Licciardello each drew a walk from Chiefs pitching.

Tim Dunphy (3-0) earned the victory on the mound for Andre as he pitched six and a third innings of relief. The right-hander gave up two runs on six hits while striking out three and walking one.

Sam Kasten went the first two and two-thirds innings giving up three runs on two hits while walking three and striking out two. He also hit a Melrose batter.

Nate Witkowski had two hits, while Tony Serino, Mike Burgoyne, Billy Mottram, Juan Portes, Jordan Pallazola and Tony Deshler each had one hit. Mottram doubled, while Serino, Burgoyne and Witkowski all tripled.

Serino, Burgoyne, Pallazola, Danny DiMare, Deshler and Witskowski scored the six runs. Both Serino and Witkowski drove in two runs while Mottram had one RBI.

Burgoyne stole two bases and Portes had one.

Burgoyne and Ryan Sondberg both walked twice while Mike Andre, Deshler, and Witkowski each walked once.

vs. Watertown Reds, July 10

The Americans earned their only win of the week as they defeated the Watertown Reds on Sunday night at Victory Field.

Melrose scored two runs in the third inning and two in the sixth. The Reds, meanwhile, plated single runs in the third and fifth innings.

Zack Kirby (2-1) went the distance to earn the win for the Americans. The right-hander gave up two runs on three hits while striking out 11 and walking four.

The Americans had only four hits but made the most of them. Masel, Petry, Rosati and Herzog had the four hits. Herzog doubled and Masel tripled.

Masel scored two runs, while Rosati and Zeke Berg crossed the plate once. Masel had two RBIs, while Rosati and Herzog drove in one run.

Berg stole a base and drew a walk. Kevin Kelley and Mike Eqitto both walked as well.

Jonathan Bishop (1-3) took the loss for the Reds. Bishop hurled six innings giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out six and walking three. He also uncorked a wild pitch.

Dante Padovani pitched one shutout inning for Watertown.

Getting the the three hits for the Reds were Chaisson, Will Brennan and Mike Samko.

Kyle LaVigne and Mac Jacobson scored the two runs, while Brennan had an RBI.

LaVigne stole three bases, while Jacobson, Brennan and Samlo each stole one base.

Jacobson walked twice, while Chaisson and Justin Forman each received one free pass.

vs. Wakefield Merchants, July 8

The Americans played an extra inning game against the Wakefield Merchants on Friday night, but came up short by a 6-5 tally.

The Merchants scored three runs in the second only to have the Americans plate a single run in the home half of the second inning and tally two more runs in the third to tie the game at 3-3.

Melrose scored a run in the fifth to take a 4-3 advantage. But Wakefield rallied with two runs in the top of the seventh to regain the lead. But the Americans scratched across a run in the last of the seventh to knot up the game at 5-5 after seven innings.

Wakefield answered with a run in the top of eighth inning and made the lead hold up for the win.

Dillon Corliss pitched six and one-third innings for the Melrose Americans giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits while walking three and striking out two. He also hit a batter.

Kyle Autillo (0-1) hurled an an inning and two-thirds and took the loss for the Americans. Autillo gave up one run (unearned) on three hits while walking one batter.

Corey Imbriano (1-0), a right-hander, earned the win in relief as he pitched three innings for Wakefield. Imbriano gave up one run on one hit while striking out five and walking two.

Joe Westerman pitched the first five innings for the Merchants giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits. The righty walked four and struck out two.

Offensively for Melrose, Petry led the way with two hits. He also scored a run and knocked in a run.

Isaiah Berg, John Jennings, Herzog and Kelley each had one hit. Jennings had the lone extra base hit for the Americans with a solo home run.

Herzog scored two runs, while Berg also crossed the plate.

Berg, Herzog and Dan Cacciola each stole a base.

Cacciola walked twice, while Berg, Masel, Jennings and Zeke Berg each drew one free pass from Wakefield pitching.

Offensively, Wakefield banged out 12 hits and outhit Melrose by a 2-1 margin.

Leading the way for the Merchants Josh Band with three hits including a double and an RBI. Band also scored a run.

Nick Napoli, Mark Poli and Chris Butler each had two hits. Butler drove in two runs, while both Napoli and Poli each knocked in one run. All three scored a run as well.

Scott Searles, Mike Sorrentino and Jake O’Rourke each had one hit. Sorrentino and O’Rourke both crossed the plate once, too.

Louis Tarantino, Searles, Sorrentino and Napoli each drew a walk as well.

vs. Reading Bulldogs, July 6

The Americans were edged 2-1 in an eight inning pitchers’ duel against the Bulldogs on Wednesday, July 6 at Morelli Field.

Reading scored its two runs in the fifth and eighth innings, while Melrose scored its lone run in the fourth.

Rosati pitched four and two-third innings giving up one run on two hits while striking out five and walking three.

Smeglin (0-3) hurled two and two-thirds innings giving up one run on four hits wile striking out a batter. He also hit a batter.

McDonough pitched two-thirds of a frame and struck out a batter.

Jennings, Zeke Berg, Eqitto and Cacciola had the four Melrose hits. Jennings scored the lone run and Eqitto had the one RBI.

Masel, Jennings, Kelley, Eqitto and Cacciola each drew a walk as well.

For the Bulldogs, Mike Curtis pitched four inning giving up one run on three hits while walking four and striking out three.

Cody Hall (2-0) earned the win in relief pitching four innings giving up one hit while striking out five and walking one.

Kyle Devin had two hits for Reading, while Nick Berno, Steve Busby, Harry Oringer and Mike DeDonato had the four hits. Busby and DeDonato’s hits were doubles.

Jordan Roper and Chris Bosco scored the two Reading runs. Berno and Busby had the two RBIs.

Roper also stole two bases. Berno, Zac Talis and EJ Martinez drew the three walks surrendered by the Americans.

The Melrose Americans hosted the Arlington Trojans on Wednesday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m. (post deadline) at Morelli Field. On Friday, July 15, the Americans take on the Reading Bulldogs in an 8 p.m. game at Endicott College.