Andre Chiefs

Medford, MA- J.P. Pollard drilled a bases clearing sixth inning double to left-center field to break a 3-3 tie and give the Chiefs a hard fought 6-3 win over the Medford Americans at Playstead Park on Wednesday night. 

The Chiefs squandered a brief 3-0 fourth inning lead but came back and recorded their third win in four attempts so far this week. 

Chiefs’ starter Dan Lozeau and his counterpart Lee Jamison both threw blanks over the first three frames as the game was scoreless heading into the top of the fourth.  

Jeff Bercume got things started in the Chiefs fourth inning when he drilled a long triple off the base of the fence in right. Jamison got Justin Crisafulli to flyout to short right for the first out and then walked rookie Dario Pizzano to put runners on the corners with one out. Veteran Brian Macrina then delivered Bercume with the first of his three hits on the night to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead. Mike Andre then flew to left for the inning’s second out. Peter Copa followed and he made it 2-zip with a single that scored Pizzano. Pollard then hit a hard one-hopper that handcuffed second baseman Monte Marrocco allowing Macrina to score making it 3-0. 

The Americans came right back to knot things up in the bottom of the inning. Ageless veteran Mike Kalfopoulos showed why he was once the most feared hitter in the ICL when he lined a Lozeau fastball into the right-center field gap for a bases clearing three RBI double that scored KC McCarthy (single), Mike Delponte (walk) and Steve Napier (single).  

It stayed a 3-3 contest until the Chiefs put up the go ahead runs in the sixth. Macrina lined his third single of the game to left and Andre followed with another single to left-center. Copa then dropped a perfect bunt that went for a single and loaded the bases. Pollard stepped up and quickly emptied them with his stand-up double. 

Lozeau struck out the side in order in the sixth and Medford reliever Ryan McNiff held the Chiefs scoreless in the seventh. 

Things got a bit interesting in the bottom of the seventh before Lozeau closed things out. Kalfopoulos grounded out to Mike Barbati at second, who made a nice play in short right to throw him out by a step and Mike Ferriero flew to Pizzano in right for out number two. Lozeau then issued a walk to Jay Olson and Mike Burgoyne pinch ran for him. Marrocco then singled to deep short to bring Steve Tahmoush to the plate representing the tying run. Lozeau ended it when he got Tahmoush to pop up to Barbati at second base.

Lozeau, who evens his record at 2-2 with the win, allowed five hits and struck out six. Jamison (2-3) took the loss for the Americans. 

The Chiefs will send right-hander Ryan McNeill (1-1) to the mound on Thursday when they return home to meet the Mooney Dental Tanners at Tufts University at 6:00 PM.