Announcement
Medford, MA- Karl Alexander tossed a complete game six-hitter, striking out seven, to lead the Watertown Reds to a 4-1 win over the Chiefs at Tufts University on Wednesday evening. With the win, the Reds take a 1-0 series lead and put the Chiefs in a must win situation when the series resumes on Friday at 5:30 PM at Bentley University in Waltham.
Alexander, the Bates College right-hander, has been a Chiefs killer over the last two seasons, owning a perfect 4-0 record against the locals in four starts.
Once again, the Chiefs victimized themselves with the proverbial “one bad inning” that paved the way for the loss.
The Reds appeared poised to open the scoring in the top of the first inning against Chiefs starter Mike DiCato. Luke Begley and Steve Panza both singled to open the frame. DiCato got Sam Sager to fly to Jeff Bercume in center for the first out before hitting Steve Busby with a pitch to load the bases. He worked a big strikeout when he got Danny Chaisson swinging for the second out of inning. Mike Giordano followed and he hit a grounder behind the bag at third that Mike Andre made a diving stop on and scrambled to beat Panza to the bag to end the threat.
Alexander got the Chiefs in order in the bottom of the first inning and DiCato had an easier second frame that included two strikeouts.
The Chiefs scored their only run of the game, to take a 1-0 lead, in the bottom of the second on singles by Justin Crisafulli and Matt Boleski and two walks, one to Paul Yanakopulos and a second to Nick Leva, with the bases loaded, to force in a run.
Things stayed quiet until the Reds scored three times in the top of the fourth to erase the Chiefs lead. Mike Giordano led off with a single and Colby Mattheson pinch ran and stole second. Sean Callahan then reached on an error by Vinny Pennell at first base, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. The Chiefs hit batsman woes of the last few weeks continued when DiCato hit Brendan Casey with a pitch to load the bases, still with no outs. Chris Burke then hit a grounder to Mike Baillargeon at short who flipped to Mike Barbati to force Casey at second but Barbati’s relay to first went into the Chiefs’ dugout, allowing both Mattheson and Callahan to score, putting the Reds in front at 2-1. Burke went to third on a wild pitch and scored when Begley delivered him with a sacrifice fly to Bercume in center. DiCato ended the inning when he caught Panza looking at strike three but the damage had been done.
The Reds added their fourth and final run in the top of the sixth inning. Casey reached on an infield single to the shortstop hole and when Baillargeon’s throw to first was low he went to second. Burke then followed with a bunt single as the Chiefs were late in covering first. Begley then picked up his second RBI of the game with an infield grounder to Barbati that scored Casey from third.
Alexander retired six of the last seven batters he faced to preserve the win. He got eleven fly ball outs.
DiCato worked six innings, surrendered seven hits, struck out six, walked two and hit three. Rob Machado came on in the seventh and struck out one and hit one, the Chiefs fourth hit batsman of the game.
Lefty Tim Dunphy will be the starter for the Chiefs on Friday while the Reds are expected to send either Brian Casey or Charlie DeFrancesco to the mound.
