Andre Chiefs

Malden, MA- Welcome back Jared.

In a welcome sight for Chiefs' fans, Jared Freni reclaimed his customary spot in the rotation and in the process pitched his mates to a 3-1 win and a 1-0 lead in the best of five series with the Reading Bulldogs on Sunday evening at sweltering Maplewood Park.

Freni was dominant, going five innings plus in the humidity, striking out ten, and allowing just four hits in his first start since June 27th. He had relief help from Tim Dunphy in the sixth, and closer Anthony Sullivan in the seventh, as the Chiefs' trio combined to strike out a dozen batters.

Hank Oringer lead off the game with a single to right but Freni left him at first by striking out Mike DeDonato, getting Kyle Devin on a pop-up, and then ending the inning with a strikeout of Zac Talis.

The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Tony Serino beat out an infield hopper, went to second on an errant pickoff attempt, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on a Juan Portes double to right. Portes was stranded when Bulldogs' starter Jack Burke got both Jordan Pallazola and Ryan Sonberg to ground out.

After setting down the Bulldogs' first two batters of the second on strikes, consecutive singles from veteran Steve Busby and Darren Hartwell gave Reading two runners on with two outs. Freni retired the side when Johnny Hayes bounced out to Steve Gambale at second base.

The Chiefs caught a couple of big breaks in their half of the second to take a 2-0 lead. Burke struck out Sonberg to open the inning but the third strike went to the backstop allowing him to reach first. Burke then got Gambale swinging for the first out before a Mike Andre grounder to the right side pushed Sonberg to third. Sonberg scored the unearned run when Nate Witkowski's grounder to short was bobbled.

Freni had his strongest inning of the night in the Reading third when he struck out the top of the Bulldogs' order in succession.

Burke was almost as strong in the bottom of the inning striking out two batters, around a Billy Mottram single, and a Portes' lineout to right.

Freni made a nice play to throw out Talis to begin the top of the fourth before walking Mike Taylor. He kept the visitors off the scoreboard when he struck out E.J. Martinez and then retired Busby on groundout to Witkowski.

The Chiefs picked up their third run, and upped their lead to 3-0, in the bottom of the fourth. Sonberg led off with a single to left-center, moved to second on a Gambale infield out to third, and scored on Andre's RBI single to left. The Chiefs appeared poised to add to their lead when Witkowski singled to right and the ball got away from Busby for an error. The right-fielder recovered in time to throw Witkowski out at second after he took a wide turn. Burke kept it a one run game when he retired Serino on a grounder to DeDonato at second.

After striking out the first two Bulldogs he faced to open the fifth, Freni appeared to tire a bit when he walked Oringer, and then gave up a two out single to DeDonato. The lead stayed at 3-0 when Freni got Devin on a liner to Sonberg in right to end the inning.

Burke retired Tony Deshler to start the bottom of the fifth on a sweet pick and throw to first by Oringer at third base. Portes was next up and singled to give the Chiefs a one out baserunner before Burke got Mottram to bounce into a 4-6-3 doubleplay that sent the game to the sixth.

Freni walked Talis to begin the sixth and Chiefs' Manager Chuck Andre, after 85 pitches, opted to bring in Dunphy to face the left-handed hitting Taylor. The veteran southpaw retired Taylor on a pop-up before Talis moved to second on a passed ball. Martinez was next and he delivered Talis with a single to short right that made it a 3-1 game. Dunphy then retired Hayes and Hartwell on infield grounders to end the inning.

The Chiefs missed a golden opportunity to add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Colby Morris. Pallazola got things started a with a gap-shot double to left-center but Morris kept it a two run game by retiring Sonberg, Gambale, and Andre, on infield grounders.

The Chiefs turned the game over to Sullivan in the seventh. The fireballing right-hander got Hayes on a chopper to Gambale for the first out, before walking Oringer. With both representing the tying run, Sullivan struck out DeDonato, and then Devin, in succession, to record the save and secure the win.

Burke pitched well in taking the loss. The righty gave up two earned runs, struck out five, and didn't walk a batter.

Chiefs Chatter....Game Two of the series will be played at Morelli Field in Melrose on Monday at 8:00 PM.....For Freni, it was his 60th career win in a Chiefs uniform. The multi-time ICL Pitcher of the Year, Legaue MVP, and Playoff MVP, raised his post season record to a sparkling 15-2.....Andre recorded his 54th career playoff hit and 28th career playoff RBI, while for Portes it was post season hits 30 and 31, to go along with 20 playoff RBI's. The pair have combined for five playoff homers (Andre 3, Portes 2).....Mike Burgoyne, who suffered an ankle injury on July 26th, and Peter Copa, who appeared to have sustained a leg injury in the pre-game warmup, were both in uniform but did not play.....In the other semi-final series opener, the Watertown Reds beat the Lexington Blue Sox 4-1 at Victory Field.....
Courtesy Ian Roberts & Steve Hartwell for ICL Baseball.
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