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Seventh Inning Errors, Perry Single, Gives Melrose 4-3 Win
Melrose, MA- The Melrose Americans took advantage of a couple of two out seventh inning errors, before Devin Perry delivered a game winning walk off single, to hand the Chiefs a 4-3 loss on Family Night at Morelli Field.
The Chiefs squandered several scoring opportunities, which included leaving ten men on base as well as an inning pickoff that at the end of the day came back to haunt them.
Peter Copa’s infield single scored Tony Deshler, who had also singled, to give the Chiefs a 1-0 first inning lead against Melrose starter Manny Powers.
The Americans came back to take a 2-1 lead off Tim Dunphy in the bottom of the second inning on singles from Mike Addesa, James McConnville, Mike Kalfopoulos and Powers.
The Chiefs tied things up in the top of the third when Deshler doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Copa’s sacrifice fly to center.
The Chiefs picked up an unearned run of their own in the top of the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Matt Boleski was hit by a pitch and was sacrificed to second by Mike Barbati. Mike DiCato was next and he also dropped a bunt with Addesa bare handing the ball and throwing wide of first allowing Boleski to come around and score the go ahead run.
It stayed 3-2 until two were out in the Melrose seventh. Dunphy issued a four pitch walk to Steve Burke to start the inning. Kalfopoulos then dropped a bunt that third baseman Mike Andre charged and hosed Burke out at second for the first out. Andy Padarat came on to pinch run for Kalfopoulos and the Chiefs brought in righty Mike DiCato to face Gianni Esposito. Esposito hit a chopper in front of the mound and DiCato threw him out at first base for out number two with Padarat moving to second. Pinch hitter Orazio Azzarello then hit a routine grounder to Barbati, the Chiefs’ regular second baseman, who was filling in at shortstop. The ball skipped through Barbati into short centerfield allowing Padarat to score the tying run. When Tony Serino airmailed the throw to the plate for the second error on the play, Azzarello went to second. Perry made the Chiefs pay the price when he drilled DiCato’s first pitch into right field to give Melrose the walk off win.
DiCato (0-2) took the loss while lefty Mike Musulli (1-0), got the win in relief.
