Andre Chiefs

By Bruce Tillman
Reading, MA- Mitchell Clegg made his first start of the season and responded with five innings of one-hit pitching when the Chiefs blanked the Reading Bulldogs 5-0 at Morton Field on Sunday.

Clegg, who was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 21st round of the 2009 MLB Draft, was dominant. The 6’5 southpaw needed just 44 pitches to blank the Bulldogs over the first five frames.

The Chiefs gave Clegg all the runs he would need when they scored three times in the top of the second inning. Johnny Welch lined a single to center off Reading starter Tim Woods to begin the inning. Mike Gedman then singled and Peter Copa drove Welch home with another single. Mike Andre made it 2-0 when he lined a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Gedman. Mike Barbati followed with a single and Billy Mottram drew a walk to load the bases. Tony Serino legged out the back end of an attempted 4-6-3 doubleplay, scoring Copa, for a 3-0 lead.

The Chiefs made it 4-0 in the top of the third. Welch reached on a two base error when Reading centerfielder Darren Hartwell dropped his warning track fly ball. Gedman then singled sending Welch to third. After Gedman stole second, Copa followed with a single up the middle, scoring Welch, with Gedman being thrown out at the plate by Hartwell.

The Chiefs final run came in the top of the seventh when Welch hit his league best fourth homer of the year to left.

Clegg struck out three, hit a batter, and walked none. The only hit he surrendered was a two out opposite field single to Colby Maiola in the bottom of the first inning. Tim Dunphy made a rare relief appearance and kept the shutout intact, working the sixth and seventh innings. Dunphy allowed a couple of seventh inning singles and struck out one.

Clegg (1-0), strained an oblique back in early June against the Americans. He worked an inning last week as a tune-up for today’s start.

Chiefs Chatter…. The Chiefs are expected to send 5-1 Jared Freni to the hill when they host the Watertown Reds on Monday at 8:00 PM at Maplewood…..Gedman (3 for 4) raised his average to .265…..Welch leads the ICL with 18 RBI while Andre and Juan Portes are in a four way tie for second, both driving in 15 runs each so far this season….Sunday’s win was the Chiefs’ ninth win in their last ten games…..