Andre Chiefs

Wakefield, MA- Former Trinity right-hander Kevin Tidmarsh spun a complete game five-hitter and his mates backed him with a dozen hits as the Merchants knocked off the Chiefs 5-1 at Walsh Field.

The Merchants took a 2-0 lead that they never relinquished in the bottom of the first inning off Chiefs starter and loser Tim Dunphy. Former Red Sox farmhand Steve Langone gave the Merchants a quick 1-0 lead when he tripled in leadoff man John Zagaria from Lynn University who had singled. Mike Sorrentino made it a 2-0 lead when he drove Langone in with another single.

The game stayed at 2-0 until Mike Baillargeon hit his fourth homer of the year, just inside the left field foul pole, leading off the fourth inning.

That was as close (2-1) as the Chiefs would come on this night. A triple by Orlowitz, leading off the Wakefield fourth inning, followed by consecutive singles from Jon Davison, Dale Crispin and Matt Russo made it 3-1 and chased Dunphy. Tufts’ right-hander Pat O’Donnell came on with the bases loaded and one out and promptly struck out Zagaria. When the third strike got a few feet away from Chiefs catcher Bob McCarthy, Crispin attempted to score and was out at the plate in a peculiar inning ending doubleplay.

The Chiefs threatened to tie it up but came up empty in the top of the fifth. Matt Anderson got things going with a single and McCarthy was hit by a Tidmarsh pitch. After two unsuccessful bunt attempts, Brian Macrina lined out sharply to left. Hal Landers then flew out to centerfield for the second out. With the Baillargeon at the plate, Tidmarsh threw a wild pitch to move both runners up into scoring position. Baillargeon was caught looking on an outside corner, full count, fastball that got the Merchants out of the inning.

Wakefield got some breathing room when they ran the score to 5-1 in the sixth. The Merchants got to O’Donnell on infield singles by Scott Searles and Langone and a big two RBI double from Davison.

Tidmarsh blanked the Chiefs in the top of the sixth and lefty Kevin Gilchrist worked the bottom of the inning for the Chiefs, surrendering only a one out single to Russo.

The Chiefs got two men on base in the top of the seventh on a McCarthy single and walk to Landers but could not score when Tidmarsh got Baillargeon to line sharply to Orlowitz in centerfield to end the game.

Dunphy (0-2), worked 3.1 innings and gave up three runs (all earned), allowed seven hits and struck out two.  

Tidmarsh now 3-0, struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Eleven of the Chiefs outs were hit to the outfielders.

The 9-3-1 Chiefs return to ICL action on Tuesday night when they travel to Victory Field in Watertown to meet the Reds at 8:00 PM.