Andre Chiefs

Somerville, MA- Josh Desai made his first career ICL start an impressive one, striking out 14 batters, when the Chiefs’ beat the Royals 6-2 at Trum Field on Thursday night.

In a game that moved along slowly enough to be timed by a sundial, Desai, the big lefty from Shrewsbury, MA, had multiple strikeouts in every inning but the fourth, and struck out the side in the fifth. 

The Chiefs threatened to blow the game open on several occasions, but were stymied by Royals’ lefty Jonathan Richard and reliever Austin Batchelor, who combined to strand no less than 16 Chiefs on the bases.

The Chiefs gave Desai what would prove to be all the runs he would need when they sent 10 men to the plate men before he took the mound. Singles from Steve Gambale and Mike Burgoyne, a Matt Nuzzo double, walks to Mike Andre, Mike Barbati, and Chad Conner, and a two-run outfield error off the bat of Nate Witkowski, stalked Desai to 4-0 lead.

The Royals answered back in the bottom of the first when a Wagner Gomez single cut the lead to 4-1.

The Chiefs left two runners stranded in scoring position in the top of the second and the Royals chopped another run off the lead in the bottom of the inning. Singles from Rob Caggiano and Nick Valdario, made it a 4-2 game as the game limped into the third inning.

Despite the slow pace of the game, it stayed 4-2 until the top of the sixth. Barbati reached on an error and Mike DICato’s sacrifice bunt was thrown into right field, allowing Barbati to score all the way from first, increasing the lead to 5-2.

The Chiefs picked up an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Batchelor walked Tony Serino, Andre, Barbati, and then Mike DiCato, with the bases loaded, jumping the margin to 6-2.

Desai finished his effort strongly with two strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh, including Luke Ronchi swinging, to end the game.

Deasi, who struck out 180 batters in just 128.1 innings in his Boston Park League career, threw 110 pitches in his complete game effort while scattering seven hits. He raised his record to 2-0 on the season. He picked up his other win on June 12 when he threw three scoreless and hitless innings against the Melrose Americans in a 3-1 Chiefs victory.

Weather permitting, the Chiefs will travel to Summer Street Field in Arlington on Friday night at 7:00 PM to meet the Trojans. -Ian Roberts for www.intercityleaguebaseball.com