Andre Chiefs

Medford, MA- Dan Chaisson delivered a two out, two RBI double in the top of the eighth inning to get the Watertown Reds past the Chiefs 5-3 at gusty Tufts University on Sunday afternoon.

The Chiefs squandered a 3-0 first inning lead in a sloppily played game that saw each team make four errors. In an ICL rarity, all eight runs scored in the game were unearned.

After starter Tim Dunphy retired the Reds in the top of the first, the Chiefs got all runs they would get in the game in the bottom of the inning. Hal Landers started things with a single and the Reds threw Tony Deshler’s double play ball into rightfield, sending Landers to third. Juan Portes popped up for the first out before Reds starter Cal Carroll walked Peter Copa to load the bases.  Mike Andre then flew to center, and with wind blowing in and knocking it down, it was not deep enough for Landers to tag. Chad Conner followed and drilled a single to right-center, scoring Landers and Deshler for a 2-0 Chiefs lead. The second Reds’ infield error of the inning, off the bat of Tony Serino, allowed Copa to score the third Chiefs run of the inning.

The Reds chipped a run off the lead in the second on an infield error and a Will Brennan opposite field double to left.

Watertown tied the game up 3-3 in unusual fashion in their half of the third. After two were out, Pete John singled. Dunphy then struck out Sean Callahan-Montague swinging on a low breaking ball in the dirt. The Reds stayed alive when catcher Chad Conner’s throw to get Callahan-Montague at first sailed into rightfield, with John going to third. Dunphy came right back to strike out Josue Feliciano on yet another low pitch that hit the front of the plate and caught a piece of Conner’s equipment and sailed up and over the backstop, allowing John to score the tying run. Dunphy got Chaisson to ground out to finally end the inning.

The Reds broke the tie in the eighth. After John grounded out to Portes at shortstop, Callahan drew a walk and moved to second on Feliciano’s bunt.  Kyle LaVigne then reached on an error by Kevin Luciano, who had come on at third base, after Andre was lifted for a pinch runner and Matt Boleski pinch hit for Rob Caggiano in the seventh. Chaisson made that error hurt when he followed with a line shot double over Tony Deshler’s head in left, giving the Reds a 5-3 lead.

Carroll (1-0), went a strong seven innings to get the win. He allowed just four hits (Landers, Conner, Portes and Andre), despite striking out just one.

Dunphy (0-1) was nearly as good, going 7.2 innings, allowing five unearned runs and five hits. Both of his two strikeout victims reached base safely in the Reds two run third inning.

Monday’s scheduled game against Wakefield at Maplewood Park, on the campus of Malden Catholic, was postponed due to field conditions.

The Chiefs are back in action on Wednesday at 7:15 PM when they travel to Morelli Field to meet the Melrose Americans.