Merchants Shut down Reading Bulldogs 4-1
Steve Keskinidis (1-0) pitched a complete game for the Merchants against the Reading Bulldogs on Monday at Endicott College.
Keskinidis struck out three, walked three, and gave up only four hits in seven innings.
The Merchants jumped on the Bulldogs in the 1st inning, scoring two runs.
Bobby Losanno led the Merchants with three hits including a triple.
Mark Webber had two hits and two RBIs, and Mike Sorrentino added a two-RBI triple.
It was a complete game for Keskinidis and a complete performance for a Merchants team who picked up their second straight win.
Xirinachs shuts out Trojans
The Wakefield Merchants beat the Arlington Trojans 1-0 last night. Steve Xirinachs (1-1) pitched a one-hitter and struck out 12 for the Merchants who are now 4-3 on the season.
The Merchants had four hits, the biggest one coming off the bat of third baseman Mike Sorrentino whose RBI single in the 3rd inning provided the only insurance Xirinachs would need. Earlier in the same at bat Sorrentino crushed a ball down the line that barely went foul. Two pitches later, he put a line drive through the infield and scored Bobby Losanno from second base.
The hit could only be described by Merchants manager Dave Ellegood as “clutch.”
Despite excellent defense throughout the game, including catcher Joe Barry throwing out a baserunner trying to steal second in the 6th inning, this game belonged to the X-Factor on the hill.
“Xirinachs spun a gem,” said Ellegood. “This game is really all about him.”
The Merchants are now tied for third in the Intercity League with the Melrose Americans and Lexington Blue Sox.
The Merchants will head in to Somerville to play the Royals tonight, before a busy weekend has them playing Saturday, Sunday and Monday. It will be a great test for a team looking to make a splash in the ICL this year.
“We’re off to a pretty good start,” said Ellegood. “We have a nice team.”
