Andre Chiefs

Malden, MA- The Watertown Reds came back from a 2-0 fifth inning deficit to beat the Chiefs 3-2 at Maplewood on Monday night.

On a night when the pitching from both sides dominated the game and hits were at premium (four for Watertown, two for the Chiefs), the Reds took advantage of three fifth inning walks, a timely double by Mike Samko, and a passed ball, to tie the game and go on to win it an inning later.

The game featured a power pitching battle between the Reds’ Juan Guzman and the Chiefs’ Jared Freni.

Freni set the Reds down in order with two strikeouts in the top of the first.

The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Guzman opened up strong and struck out both Tony Serino and Juan Portes to start the inning before Johnny Welch doubled to left-center and went to third on a passed ball. Welch scored an unearned run when Samko dropped Mike Gedman’s flare behind third base.

The Reds’ got a one out single from Pete Burgio in the top of the second but Freni got Liam O’Connor to ground out ,and then struck out Ryan Pocock, to end the inning.

The Chiefs’ lead went to 2-0 in the top of the second when Mike Barbati tripled to right-center and then scored on a wild pitch.

Guzman and Freni were dominant in both the third and fourth innings.

The Reds tied up the game up in the top of the fifth. O’Connor bounced back to Freni to start the inning. Pocock and Will Brennan then drew consecutive walks. After Freni struck out Kevin Kelley for the second out, Samko lined a double to left-center, scoring Pocock to make it a 2-1 game. With Mac Jacobson at the plate, Brennan came across with the tying run on a passed ball. Jacobson eventually walked and stole second before Freni struck out Dan Chaisson to end the inning with Reds’ runners at second and third.

The Chiefs got the potential go ahead run to second in the bottom of the fifth. Barbati walked, went to second on Nick Leva’s one out push bunt to the right side, but was stranded there when Guzman struck out Serino.

The Reds got the game winner off reliever Mitchell Clegg in the top of the sixth. Steve Rogers got things started when he lined a two strike pitch to right. With Rogers running on the pitch, Burgio flew to Serino in center and his strong throw to first just missed doubling off the runner. Burgio eventually stole second before Clegg struck out O’Connor for the second out. With Burgio on the move once again, Pocock lined a single between third and short easily scoring him with the go ahead run.

Guzman got three big hitters in the bottom of the sixth. Jacobson ran down a Portes’ shot to the warning track in left-center, Welch struck out swinging, and Gedman was retired on bullet to Brennan at shortstop.

Clegg settled in and retired the Reds in order in the top of the seventh.

The Chiefs threatened to tie and/or win the game in their last at bat but came up empty.
Peter Copa drew a four pitch walk and Mike Burgoyne came on to pinch run. After two unsuccessful sacrifice bunt attempts, Guzman struck out Paul Yanakopulos swinging on a low full count breaking ball with Burgoyne stealing second on the pitch. Mike Andre was next and he hit a ball back up the middle that Guzman gloved and appeared to have Burgoyne hung up. After being caught in a brief rundown, Burgoyne scampered safely back to second with Andre reaching first with the potential winning run. Jonathan Bishop came out of the bullpen and recorded the two out save when he got Barbati on a broken bat liner to Kelley at second and then struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Sonberg looking to end the game.

Guzman (1-0) went 6.1 innings and struck out seven while Bishop recorded his first save of the season.

Freni worked five innings, gave up one earned run, two hits, walked four, and struck out nine. Clegg (0-1) was charged with the loss as he allowed two hits and struck out one in a couple of innings.

The 15-5 Chiefs travel to Endicott College in Beverly to meet the Reading Bulldogs on Tuesday at 8:00 PM. On Wednesday they return to Maplewood to host the Somerville Thunder at 8:15 PM.