STEVE PASSATEMPO (left) makes a throw to Mac Singleton at first base during the Melrose Americans game against the Wakefield Merchants on July 2 at Morelli Field. The Americans lost that Intercity League contest by a 5-2 score and then dropped a 10-9 game on Monday night to the Andre Chiefs. (Donna Larsson Photo)
Published in the July 10, 2015
MELROSE — The Melrose Americans’ struggles continued this past week as they dropped two more games to extend their losing streak to seven games. Even though Melrose lost both of its contests this past week, both were closely contested affairs.
The Americans were edged by a 10-9 score against the Andre Chiefs on Monday night at Maplewood Field. The loss came after Melrose dropped an eight inning thriller to the Wakefield Merchants by a 5-2 tally on Thursday, July 2 at Morelli Field.
Melrose’s record is now 2-9-0 in the Intercity League.
vs. Andre Chiefs, July 6
The Chiefs came from behind on three occasions to finally edge the Melrose Americans at Maplewood.
Steve Passatempo gave the Americans a 3-0 first inning lead with a three-run homer. The Americans also got homers from Austin Masel and Chris Sharpe before the Chiefs came back to win.
Passatempo had two hits, a run scored and four RBIs. Sharpe had three hits including a double and a triple. He also scored two runs and knocked in two runs. Masel had one hit, one run scored and two RBIs.
Mike Addessa had a hit and a run scored, Harrison Smokse had a hit, a walk and a stolen base, John Jennings had a triple and a run scored and Dan Cacciola had a hit and a run scored. Also Mac Singleton had two hits including a triple and also scored two runs, drove in a run, and stole a base.
The Americans used three pitchers in the contest.
Anthony Daily went three innings and was touched up for six runs on four hits walking five and striking out three.
Ryan Colbert (0-1) went one-third of an inning giving up four runs on five hits while walking a batter.
Mike Peters hurled the final two and two-thirds innings giving up one hit while striking out two and walking a batter.
For the Chiefs, Peter Copa’s three-run homer, two hits and three RBIs from Mike Barbati, a Mike Burgoyne two-RBI triple, a Johnny Welch RBI double, a Mike Gedman RBI single and two hits from Mike Andre, sparked the comeback. Tony Serino had a hit and Burgoyne had two hits on night for the Chiefs 10 hits.
Copa scored three runs, while Serino and Burgoyne scored two each. Welch, Gedman and Nick Leva also crossed the plate once. Barbati also had a double in the game and Gedman had two stolen bases, while Serino and Burgoyne each had one.
Serino walked three times, while Burgoyne, Gedman, Copa and Leva each drew one free pass.
Tim Dunphy (2-0) threw three and two-thirds innings of two-hit relief to get the win for Andre. He surrendered one run on two hits while striking out a batter and walking one.
Mike DiCato hurled the first three and one-third inning yielding eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits while striking out five and walking none.
The Americans plated three runs in the first inning, three in the second, one in the third, one in the fourth and one in the seventh. The Chiefs tallied three runs in the first inning, two in the third and five in the fourth to account for their scoring.
vs. Wakefield Merchants, July 2
The Merchants plated three runs in the top of the eighth inning as they pulled out a 5-2 triumph over the Melrose Americans on Thursday night in an Intercity League contest at Morelli Field.
The Americans used two pitchers in the contest.
Mike Andrews (1-2) went seven innings giving up five runs on six hits while striking out three and walking three. Andrews also threw a wild pitch and committed a balk.
Christian Rosati hurled one frame walking two batters and striking out one.
Getting the hits for the Americans were Vinny Scifo and Singleton with two apiece. Singleton had a double and both Scifo and Singleton each drove in a one run.
Scifo and Colby Maiola scored the two runs. Smoske, Singleton and Maiola each stole a base.
Drawing the three walks were Scifo, Smoske and Passatempo.
Kyle McCarthy (2-1) went the distance for the Merchants giving up two runs on four hits while striking out four and walking three. He also hit a batter.
Offensively, Wakefield had six hits with Nick Napoli leading the way with two. Napoli also drove in a run.
Bobby Losanno, Scott Searles, Mike Sorrentino and Joe Barry each had a hit for the Merchants. Searles, Sorrentino and Barry also had RBIs in the game.
Losanno scored two runs, while Searles, Sorrentino and Barry crossed the plate once. Losanno also had two stolen bases and Searles had one.
Wakefield also benefited from six walks surrendered by Melrose. Losanno walked twice, while Sorrentino, Napoli, Mike Manoogian and Dom Sorrentino each drew one free pass.
The Merchants plated two runs in the fifth inning before breaking a 2-2 tie with a three-run eighth. The Americans, meanwhile, scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
The Americans were scheduled to play the Watertown Reds in a home and home series on Wednesday night at 7:45 p.m. at Victory Field (post deadline) and then tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Morelli Field.
