Andre Chiefs

Somerville, MA- For the second time this season the Chiefs made the short trek to Trum Field and for the second time they came away empty. The Somerville Royals, who beat the Chiefs 6-2 on June 21, turned the trick again at the ancient ballyard, this time led by the "bend but don't break" pitching of Chuck Gibson on the way to a 3-1 win on Tuesday night.

The watchword on this night for Chiefs' loyalists was "frustration." 

Offensively the Chiefs managed to strand a dozen, had two runners thrown out at third base, and saw the Royals pitching duo of Gibson and Cal Carroll throw four inning ending strikeouts. 

Defensively, they saw a "lost in the twilight sky triple" and an infield groundout out lead to Somerville's first run with the second run coming on a sacrifice bunt that went for a single and fielder's choice, and then handed the Royals their third run on a two out infield error followed by a misplayed fly ball.

Wasted in all of the above was a pretty solid pitching performance from lefty Mitchell Clegg and a three for three night from Tony Deshler.

The Royals took a 1-0 lead in bottom of the first when Jake Cintolo hit a fly ball down the right field line that was never seen off the bat by Mike Burgoyne and went for a triple. Wagner Gomez got an RBI when Cintolo scored on a high infield chopper.

The lead went to 2-0 in the Royals second. Drew Carter drew a walk and Luke Ronchi singled to right. Player-Manager Jim McConville then dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt that got by Clegg toward second base and went for a single to load the bases with no outs. After Clegg struck out Adam Johnson for the first out, the Chiefs came up a half step short of escaping the inning when B.J. Neil just beat out the back end of a 5-4-3 doubleplay attempt.

It went to 3-0 in the third. Cintolo led off with a single but was erased at second when Gomez bounced into a 1-6-4-3 doubleplay off Clegg's glove. George Crowley then reached on an error by Deshler at second and scored when Ryan Sonberg misplayed Carter's warning track fly ball to left into a double.

To recap the scoring chances the Chiefs had would require volumes. Their only run came in the top of the seventh, and even that came with frustration. Jordan Pallazolla doubled into the right-centerfield gap, scoring Peter Copa who had walked, but was thrown out at third trying to stretch it to a triple.

Gibson (1-2), picked up his first win of the year. He went 5.2 scoreless innings, gave up six hits, walked five, struck out seven, and was tough when he had to be. Carroll chaked up the 1.1 inning save.

Clegg (2-3), allowed six hits (three to Cintolo), two earned runs, struck out eight, and walked just one.

Chiefs Chatter....The now 12-5-1 Chiefs host the Reading Bulldogs at Maplewood on Wednesday in an 8:15 PM start...In other Tuesday action, the Watertown Reds beat the Blue Sox 6-3 in Lexington....
Bruce Tillman, File Photo