Announcement
Medford, MA- The Lexington Blue Sox took a 2-1 series lead with a 4-2 win over the Chiefs at steamy Tufts University on Saturday afternoon.
The Best of Five series continues on Sunday at Tufts when Game Four will be played at 1:30 PM. If the Chiefs force a Game Five, it will be played in Lexington on Monday night.
The Chiefs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Blue Sox starter Matt Karis. Mike Andre drove home Jeff Bercume, who had reached on fielder’s choice, with a RBI single.
The Blue Sox answered and took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning when Chiefs starter Dylan Ellis surrendered four singles to Matt McEvoy, Tom Haugh, Anthony Santos and Peter Frates.
The Sox lead went to 4-1 in the fourth inning when Haugh walked, Poling reached on an infield single and Ellis threw Santos’ sacrifice bunt attempt into right field allowing Haugh to score. Santos came around to score on a fielder’s choice.
The Chiefs closed the gap to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth and threatened for mush more. Macrina drew a walk and Bercume reached on a two base error putting runners on second and third with nobody out. Mike Baillargeon then grounded to Steve Gath at shortstop who caught Bercume trying to go to third as Macrina scored on the play. Andre followed with a line single to right, his second of the game, sending Baillargeon to second. Justin Crisafulli then hit a screaming liner that was bound for the left field corner. Sox third baseman Ross Curley came up with the play of the game when he leaped to make an outstanding grab and recovered in time to double Baillargeon off second to end the inning.
Matt O’Brien worked a scoreless sixth for the Blue Sox and Jesse Santos picked up the save in the seventh.
Ellis went the distance for the Chiefs allowing three earned runs and eight hits while striking out five. Karis picked up the win giving up two runs on six hits and striking out three in his five innings of work.
The Blue Sox will send Drew Brozowski to the mound in Sunday’s Game Four while the Chiefs are expected to counter with Ryan McNeill.