Andre Chiefs

Medford, MA- Left-hander Tim Dunphy tossed a complete game five-hitter to lead the Chiefs past the Reading Bulldogs 4-2 on Father’s Day afternoon at Tufts University’s Huskins Field. For the Chiefs, it was their fifth straight win since surrendering a 3-0 lead and losing to the Watertown Reds 5-3 in the season opener.

The Bulldogs took a brief 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Hank Oringer singled, stole second, and scored on Nick Conti’s two out infield single.

The Chiefs came right back and took advantage of starter Brian O’Neil’s wildness to take a 2-1 lead in their half of the first. Walks to Tony Serino, Tony Deshler and Peter Copa, sandwiched around a Juan Portes RBI single and a hit batsman (Nate Witkowski), led to the two runs.

It remained a 2-1 ballgame until the Chiefs pushed across a couple of more runs in the bottom of the fourth. A Portes single, a walk to Witkowski, a misplayed soft liner in left off the bat of Matt Boleski, and a RBI infield single from Chad Conner, gave Dunphy a 4-1 lead heading to the fifth inning.

Reading got an unearned run in the top off the seventh when Dante Padovani reached on a one out error by Witkowski at third and scored on a Billy Cataldo RBI double to account for the 4-2 final.

Dunphy, now 2-1, struck out two and didn’t issue a walk while lowering his ERA to 0.32 in 21.2 innings so far this season. He needed just 77 pitches to record career win 17 in a Chiefs uniform.

O’Neil, who looked dominating at times, allowed six hits and struck out six in his five innings of work. The former Bryant University right-hander walked four (three who scored), and hit Witkowski twice. Lefty Kevin Church came on for the Bulldogs and got the Chiefs side in order in the bottom of the sixth.

Portes, the 2012 ICL Triple Crown winner, finished the day 3 for 4 with an RBI as well as four assists at shortstop.

The starting time for Monday’s game at Maplewood (Malden Catholic) against the Arlington Trojans has been changed to 6:45 PM.