Andre Chiefs

Medford, MA- Ailing veteran Paul Koslowski drilled a pinch hit solo home run leading off the sixth inning, breaking a 4-4 tie, and propelling the Chiefs to a darkness shortened 6-4 win over the Medford Americans at Playstead Park on Tuesday evening. Lefty Dylan Ellis survived a rocky four run third inning to stay unbeaten in seven 2008 decisions.

The Americans rallied from a 2-0 hole to score four times in the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-2 lead.

The Chiefs started quickly in the top of the first inning against the Americans and Kevin Hayes. Mike Barbati led off with a single and Phil Costello quickly plated him with a long double to right center. Hayes got Andrew Hanson to pop up and cleanup man Justin Crisafulli looking before Matt Lawlor came up big once again with a single that scored Costello and staked Ellis to a 2-0 lead.

Ellis got the side in order in the home half of the first and the Chiefs could not increase their lead in the second despite a Mike Andre lead off single to right. Ellis struck out the side in the bottom of the second inning. The Chiefs got Barbati aboard via an infield error to start the third but he was erased when Costello lined to Hayes on the mound for an easy 1-3 doubleplay.

The Americans made plenty of noise in the third picking up all of their four runs. Callahan led off with a single to left and after a strikeout, consecutive singles by Mike Burgoyne and Steve Panza loaded the bases for Mike Kalfopoulos. Kalfopoulos hit a chopper in front of the plate that went for a single and scored Callahan. Mike Delponte followed with a RBI groundout which tied the game at 2-2. Kevin Burgoyne then drew a walk to reload the bases for Bill Smeglin who lined a single to center scoring Panza and Delponte and giving the Americans the lead at 4-2.

It stayed that way until the top of the fifth inning when the Chiefs tied the game at 4-4. Costello was hit by pitch and Hanson flew to left. Crisafulli then singled to left and Lawlor hit one back to Hayes who threw Costello out at the plate. Leva then singled scoring Crisafulli to make it 4-3. Andre then reached on an infield error that scored Lawlor and tied the game at four. Hayes averted further trouble when he got Matt Boleski swinging to end the inning.

The Americans got a single from Mike Delponte with one out in the bottom of the fifth and Kevin Burgoyne then reached on a Batbati error. The threat went by the boards when Smeglin hit into a Leva at short to Andre at first doubleplay.

Koslowski pinch hit for Nicky Dunn leading off the sixth and deposited a homer deep over the right center field fence that allowed the Chiefs to reclaim the lead at 5-4. A Barbati triple into the right field corner followed and Dan Nugent replaced Hayes on the hill for the Americans. Costello greeted Nugent with a RBI single that upped the Chiefs lead to 6-4. Hanson then singled sending Costello to third and Crisafulli struck out.  Lawlor then hit a sharp liner to right that resulted in a doubleplay with Costello being caught off third base.

Ellis retired the side in order in the bottom of the sixth and the Chiefs were at bat in the seventh when darkness set in and the game was called.

With the win the Chiefs go to 16-7-6 on the year with three games remaining in the regular season.