Published in the July 6, 2017 edition
SCOTT SEARLES has been a steady presence for the Merchants on the field and at the dish. Searles, the number two hitter in the order, is one of four Merchants batters who rank in the top 11 in the ICL in hits. (Donna Larsson Photo).
WAKEFIELD – The Wakefield Merchants beat the Reading Bulldogs 7-4 last night at Walsh Field. It was the first game in seven days for the Merchants as the Intercity League gave its teams a break to celebrate the Fourth of July.
The Merchants needed a win to keep up with the top of the league. The Watertown Reds beat the Andre Chiefs 10-0 last night to stay in first place, and the Lexington Blue Sox beat the Arlington Trojans 11-0 to stay hot on the heels of Wakefield. The Reds are in first with 17 points, the Merchants in second with 16, and the Blue Sox in third with 15.
Steve Xirinachs (2-1) got the win for the Merchants, pitching a full seven innings. The Bulldogs were able to get 11 hits, but Xirinachs did a nice job of limiting damage, holding Reading to four runs, which is usually not enough to beat the 2017 Merchants, who have scored more runs (64) than any other ICL team.
The Merchants did most of their work at the plate in the middle innings, scoring two runs in the third inning and four runs in the fourth, giving them a commanding 6-2 lead.
The one through four hitters for the Merchants have been on the same simple page all season: get hits and score runs. Bobby Losanno, Scott Searles, Mark Webber and Mike Sorrentino make up Wakefield’s version of murderer’s row. The four combined for 11 hits and six RBIs last night. Losanno had three hits an RBI and scored three times; Searles had two hits and two RBIs; Webber three hits and an RBI, and Sorrentino three hits and two RBIs.
Joe Barry added two hits, an RBI, and scored twice.
The Merchants are now 7-1 in their last eight games, and 3-0 against the Bulldogs, who they will meet for the final time Monday at 8 p.m. at Endicott College.
Wakefield will head down the street to Morelli field tonight to take on the Melrose Americans at 7:30 p.m. They host the Andre Chiefs on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Walsh Field.
