Andre Chiefs

Reading, MA- Rob Machado spun a complete game five-hitter and the Chiefs backed him with five early runs to win their second game in Reading in as many nights, 5-1 at Morton Field on Wednesday.

Machado was in control from start to finish, striking out nine, in his first start of the season. The righty, from UMass-Amherst via Malden Catholic, had made seven previous mound appearances out of the bullpen this year.

The Chiefs jumped on Bulldog starter Brian Millea (1-1) for three runs in the top of the first inning. Leadoff man Paul Yanakopulos flew out and Bob McCarthy drew a full count walk. Tim Dempsey then flew to the warning track in right for the second out of the inning. Justin Crisafulli drew a walk and Mike Andre (photo left) followed and gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead when he doubled to left-center scoring McCarthy and sending Crisafulli to third. With Tony Deshler at the plate, Millea uncorked a wild pitch allowing Crisafulli to score, making it 2-0. Deshler singled on the next pitch scoring Andre, staking Machado to a 3-0 lead.

Machado recorded two strikeouts in each of the first two innings and the Chiefs lead increased to 5-0 in the top of the third when they scored two unearned runs. Andre drew a two out walk and Deshler sent him to third with a double off the base of the fence in left-center. The Chiefs caught a break when rookie Sean Glabicky struck out on a pitch in the dirt and the throw to get him at first sailed into rightfield allowing both Andre and Deshler to score.

Machado was in cruise control until the Bulldogs picked up their only run of the night in the bottom of the fifth on a single by Steve Buitkus, a catcher’s interference with John Halsey at the plate, and a RBI single from T.J. Murphy.

In the sixth, Machado allowed a two out single to Mike Russo, who was promptly thrown out trying to steal second by McCarthy.

Machado got the Bulldogs in order in the bottom of the seventh, which included a fine defensive play by second baseman Mike Barbati for the first out.

Deshler (pictured left) and Andre each reached base three times for the Chiefs.

With the win, Machado lowered his ERA to 2.00 and has now struck out 15 batters in 14 innings in his eight mound appearances.

The Chiefs are off on Thursday and will travel to Ferullo Field in Woburn for an 8:00 PM Friday date with the Mooney Dental Tanners.

Jared Freni (3-2) is expected to get the start for the Chiefs.