Outdueled by Bulldogs in Game 1 of best-of-three series
Published in the August 12, 2016 edition
KEVIN KELLEY had a double and drove in the lone Melrose run in the Americans 3-1 Game 1 loss to the Reading Bulldogs in the first round of the Intercity League playoffs. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
MELROSE — The Melrose Americans were outdueled in their Intercity League playoff opener against the Reading Bulldogs and will need to win two straight to move on to the semifinal round of the ICL playoffs.
The Americans were held to just three hits as they dropped a 3-1 contest on Monday night, Aug. 8 at Endicott College in Game 1 of the best-of-three series.
Melrose needed to win Games 2 and 3 (post deadline) which were scheduled for Wednesday night, Aug. 10 at 8 p.m. at Morelli Field and Thursday night, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. at Endicott.
The Americans were also blanked on Thursday, Aug. 4 by a 10-0 score to the Somerville Royals in the regular season finale at Trum Field. Melrose finished the regular season with a 10-15-2 record.
vs. Reading Bulldogs, Aug. 8
The Bulldogs got a complete game three-hitter from Jack Burke and beat the Melrose Americans, 3-1, at Endicott College in Beverly. Burke outdueled Americans’ righty Zack Kirby, who allowed just six hits.
Burke (1-0) also struck out four batters and walked three.
Meanwhile, Kirby (0-1) went six innings giving up three runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking three. He also threw a wild pitch.
Getting the three hits for the Americans were Isaiah Berg, John Jennings and Kevin Kelley. Kelley’s hit was a double and he drove in the lone Melrose run.
Dave Center scored the Melrose run in the fifth inning. Reading, meanwhile, scored two runs in the second and one in the third.
Mike Addesa, Nick Herzog and Zeke Berg all drew walks from Burke.
For the Bullldogs, Harry Oringer had a triple and two RBIs, Mike Taylor a hit and an RBI and Steve Busby banged a couple of hits to lead Reading’s offense.
Zac Talis and Johnny Hayes had the other two hits for the Bulldogs.
Kyle Devin, Busby and Hayes crossed the plate for the three Reading runs.
Oringer, Devin and Hayes drew the three walks given up by Kirby.
vs. Somerville Royals, Aug. 4
The Melrose Americans closed out the regular season with a 10-0 loss against the Somerville on Thursday, Aug. 4 at Trum Field. Melrose had already locked up the fifth seed for the Intercity League playoffs, while the Royals needed a win to get into the postseason.
The Royals plated two runs in the third inning, four in the fourth, two in the fifth and two in the sixth inning.
The Americans had six hits total. Leading the way was Tom Petry with two of them.
Christian Rosati, Jennings, Center and Dan Cacciola each had one hit.
Drawing the three walks surrendered by Somerville pitching were Rosati, Andre Gaudet and Cacciola.
The Americans used four pitchers in the contest.
Austin Batchelor went one inning giving up one hit.
Mike Peters (0-1) pitched two and two-thirds giving up six runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out two and walking none. He hit two batters as well.
Zeke Berg threw two innings of relief giving up four runs (two earned) on three while walking three and striking out one. He also threw a wild pitch.
Rosati went the final third of an inning and struck out a batter.
The Royals starter Jon Richard (2-3) went the distance to earn the win hurling a six-hit shutout. Richard struck out seven and walked three.
Somerville had 11 hits with four players getting two hits. They were Rob Caggiano, John Collette, Wagner Gomez and George Crowley. Collette hit a double and Caggiano had a triple.
James McConville, Luke Ronchi and Adam Johnson had a hit each.
Caggiano, Jake Cintolo and Sean MacPhee crossed the plate twice, while Gomez, BJ Neil, Rochi and Johnson each scored one run. Gomez had two RBIs, while Caggiano, Collette, Crowley, McConville, MacPhee and Johnson each knocked in one run.
Johnson walked twice, while MacPhee walked once. MacPhee also stole two bases and Ronchi stole one base.
