Announcement
LIBBY SOLO HOMER IN 9TH GIVES CHIEFS 3-2 WALKOFF WIN OVER READING
Malden, MA- R.J. Libby’s walk off solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Chiefs a 3-2 opening night win over the Reading Bulldogs at Maplewood.
It was the first Chiefs’ win for new manager Jim McConville.
Chiefs’ pitching was dominant on the night as four hurlers combined to strike out 18 batters and scatter just three hits.
Lefty Evan Walsh got the starting nod and things started out a little shaky in the top of the first. The Bulldogs used a walk, an infield error, and a RBI double from Tyler Cedeno to take a 1-0 lead before an out was recorded. Walsh settled in and struck out the next three batters to leave Cedeno stranded and end the inning.
Walsh struck two more batters in the top of the second before Jonathan Richard came on in the third and worked two scoreless innings. The Reading lead went to 2-0 in the sixth when Richard surrendered an unearned run on an outfield error and a Cedeno RBI single.
Tommy Leone spelled Richard in the top of the sixth and promptly struck out the Reading side.
The Chiefs took advantage of Bulldogs’ wildness and evened things up at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Walks to Nate Witkowski, Andrew Caulfield, A.J. Johnson, John Collette and Brendan Albert, sandwiched around a Ryan Noone fielder’s choice, accounted for the two runs.
Graham Seed (1-0) took the mound in the top of the seventh and was lights out. The big right-hander struck out eight batters and didn’t allow a hit, setting the stage for Libby’s two out heroics in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Chiefs Chatter…. The Chiefs are back in action on Thursday evening when they travel to Lexington to meet the Blue Sox at 8:00 PM. Veteran southpaw Tim Dunphy is expected to get the start…..The 18 strikeouts: Walsh (5 K’s, Richard 2 K’s, Leone 3 K’s and Seed 8 K’s) are the most a Chiefs’ staff has had in game since Walsh’s record setting 20 strikeout performance on June 22, 2019…..New Pitching Coach and ICL Hall of Famer Dave Caiazzo certainly had to be pleased with performance of his staff in his Chiefs’ debut….
