JOE BARRY came through with a clutch, three-RBI double during last night’s Merchants game one win over the Reds at Morelli Field. The Merchants were down 4-3 when Barry hit the two-out, full count double. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

Published in the August 16, 2018 edition.

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

MELROSE — Too bad it wasn’t in the seventh.

That’s the only possible way Joe Barry’s three-run double in the sixth inning could have been any more clutch.

With a full count, two outs, bases loaded and the Merchants down 4-3, Barry wasn’t hoping for a borderline pitch he could put in the hands of the umpire and tie the game. He wanted something to hit, and he got it, sending a deep drive to left-center at Morelli Field in Melrose, clearing the bases and completing a comeback that gave Wakefield a win in game one of the the Intercity League semifinals over the Watertown Reds.

“That’s why the playoffs are awesome,” said Merchants manager Dave Ellegood, who was a member of the last Merchants’ championship team in 1994. “I’ve been in a lot of playoff games with these guys. It’s just a different atmosphere than the regular season. Everything counts.”

Ellegood was most proud of the mettle the Merchants showed during a classic dog fight from the start.

Joe Maguire got the ball for Wakefield and true to form battled all game. Watertown’s Jake Miller opened the scoring with a solo shot to left, but Maguire kept the Reds off the board until the 5th. Maguire ended up pitching 6.1 innings allowing eight hits, four earned runs and two walks while striking out one.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the 4th, the Merchants started a rally with Koster and a little help from Ellegood. After a Koster grounder, a close play happened at first. Koster was originally called out but the first baseman looked like his foot was off the bag while reaching for a tough throw. Ellegood asked the home plate umpire to confer and the call was overturned. Wakefield capitalized as Scott Searles put one into the hole that the shortstop dove for and Koster beat the force at second and moved up to third on a wild throw to first.

Koster would later score and tie the game on a wild pitch to Chris Butler. Searles advanced to second on the wild pitch and got to third after Butler grounded out to second, setting up Mike Sorrentino with two outs. “Tino” came through with an RBI base knock through the hole to give the Merchants a 2-1 lead.

The Reds came right back in the top of the 5th with some small ball. A walk, infield single and drag bunt loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly made it 2-2 and advanced the runners to second and third. A big single scored two, giving the Reds a 4-2 lead.

An error on the next play put runners at first and third, but Maguire picked up his teammates, reaching back for a strikeout on a heater that couldn’t be touched.

The Merchants were deliberate in the bottom of the 5th, keeping calm despite the two-run deficit. Joe Barry started the rally with a leadoff double down the left field line. A well-executed bunt from Mike Manoogian put Barry on third, allowing Bobby Losanno to “do a job” as they say. He sent a fly ball to right that was plenty deep enough to score Barry and make it 4-3. It was a perfect example of productive outs.

Maguire got through the top of the 6th unscathed, setting up the bats to go get this one.

Wakefield native Anthony Cecere hit a one-out single and Butler followed with a sinking liner to center. Sorrentino hit a shot off the glove of the pitcher and everyone was safe, loading the bases for Barry.

It was a great at-bat, as Barry watched strike two enter the glove to make it a full count. The feel was that most hitters would hope for a pitch out of the zone and just spoil anything that was surely a strike. That way, a walk would tie the game.

Barry wasn’t thinking like that exactly.

The outfielders for Watertown were playing very shallow, something that Barry made them pay for with a shot that reached the fence on a couple of bounces forcing a retreat from the Reds. Cecere and Butler scored easily and Sorrentino for that matter didn’t break much of a sweat scoring from first.

Manoogian followed with an RBI single to make it 7-4.

Maguire went back out for the 7th despite throwing plenty of pitches to this point.

“Questionable whether to put him out there in the 7th but like all year he’s wanted the ball,” said Ellegood.

Maguire got the first batter to fly out but the Reds finally got to the Wakefield ace, forcing Ellegood to bring in Evan Chrispitopolus who picked up the save after a run scored on a fielders’ choice.

“We never quit tonight,” said Ellegood. “Down 4-2 and we just came right back.”

Wakefield got surprising news from the ICL’s other semifinals as Alibrandis beat league powerhouse Lexington in game one, 5-2.

Ellegood was certainly surprised to hear that, but all the more reason to remind the guys that anything can happen in the playoffs.

It had been nearly two weeks since the Merchants last game on August 2. The layoff won’t be as long this time as they play game two tomorrow night at Victory Field in Watertown. Sunday’s game three will be at Walsh Field, time to be determined.

“It’s nice being up 1-0,” said Ellegood. “The pressure is on them.”