Red Sox 15 Indians 8
Ashland's Paul Murphy broke open the game with an inside-the-park grand slam in the fourth inning
Sunday at Bauks Field in Marlboro, as the Red Sox beat the Indians 15-8.
The Red Sox (11-4) remain one game out of first place in the American League, with one game left to
play. The Indians finish their regular season at 8-8. They are fourth-seed for the playoffs.
Gnarly-fingered Jack Buchanan started for Marlboro and held powerful Ashland to two runs into the
fourth. But then Sox bats erupted for seven runs, highlighted by Murphy's shot to right with the
bases loaded. The fleet-footed Murph scored standing up.
Other Red Sox offensive stars included centerfielder John Badaracco (2-for-3), third baseman Pete
Padovano (2-for-2, walk), and Kevin Quinn (2-for-2, walk) -- who showed no ill-effects from last
week's 16-inning scorcher vs. the Orioles that put him briefly in the hospital.
"Last week I was out on the field and I started hallucinating that Sara was pitching in slow-motion,"
said Quinn.
"That was no hallucination," said others -- among them several Marlboro players this week, who
said it with their bats. Though Sox righthander Steve Saraceno collected his tenth win of the
season, he was rapped soundly by the likes of Hugh Cornwell (4-for-4, two doubles), catcher Steve
Courtwright (3-for-3, four RBI), and centerfielder Tom Pare (3-for-4, three runs).
Also joining the Indian attack were first baseman Dave Rymsza (2-for-5, double), second-baseman
Craig Macauley, shortstop Randy Pina, and rightfielder Dave Laliberte (all 2-for-4).
Late in the game Marlboro almost performed a reprise of their comeback earlier this season vs.
the Red Sox, closing the score to 11-8 in the eighth. But four Sox runs in the ninth put the game
away for good.
Tigers 19 Mariners 8
No recap available.
Orioles 6 White Sox 4
No recap available.
Braves 11 Phillies 6
No recap available.
Cardinals 15 Brewers 10
No recap available.
Cubs 13 Dodgers 8
No recap available.
Week 15, 07/29/07
Red Sox 5 Orioles 4, 16 innings
Take a short list of classic MetroWest League games:
1) the Will Lessard-Wally Siggins pitcher's duel that gave the Cubs the championship in 1998.
2) the Orioles two-out comeback from a 3-0 deficit against Newton that earned the underdog O's a finals berth -- and eventual title in 2001.
3) the 16-inning regular season pitcher's duel between eventual finalists Braves and Orioles in 2004 -- Jimmy Callaghan (winner) and Rob Gray (loser) both going all the way.
4) the 14-inning second game of a doubleheader between the dynastic O's and upstart Red Sox in the
2004 American League finals -- Steve Saraceno pitching 19 innings that day, but losing to Gray who
pitched 14.
5) the Phillies winning a 15-inning second game of a doubleheader versus the Braves to gain the
2006 finals,
6) only to lose the crown to the Red Sox in a 14-inning second game of a doubleheader -- Saraceno
throwing 15 that afternoon.
Now add this gem:
7) July 29, 2007. Ashland Red Sox - 5, Framingham
Orioles - 4. 16 innings.
It started mundanely enough. Framingham took advantage of two Ashland miscues to score single runs
in the first and second off Red Sox starter Steve Saraceno (not him again?). But the Sox countered
with single runs in the fifth and sixth off O's ace Jeff Golden, tying the game at 3-3 in the eighth
with a single run off reliever Jeff Merzel.
Golden worked out of several bases loaded jams -- mostly the result of cheap hits and errors -- in
the first, fifth, and sixth.
Saraceno (9-3 with a 1.76 ERA over 102 innings) settled in after the first two frames and cruised
through the tenth. In the sixth inning he threw an eephus pitch to O's first-sacker Barry Bennett,
taken for a called strike. Bennett jokingly tried standing on home plate afterwards. He eventually
struck out on a submarine curve.
Things got more serious in the ninth. With one out and the score tied, Ashland's Wayne Sylvia
singled and stole second. New Sox acquisition Peter Padovano (3-for-4 on the day, including a key
single in the 13th) blooped a pop over third baseman Mark Knowlton's head. Sylvia played it safe
and held at third. Padovano moved to second on the throw.
With the winning run ninety feet away, Merzel displayed his New York cool by getting Steve Triveri
to pop out to short right, then struck out Mike Donfrancesco in a nervewracking ten-pitch battle.
Extra-innings.
Framingham loaded the bases in the 13th off Donfrancesco (who threw four gutsy innings in relief of
Saraceno). With one out Sox rightfielder Paul Murphy dropped a possible sacrifice fly off the bat of
Dave Bieksha. But Murphy recovered quickly -- his throw forced Carlo Galvani at the plate.
But with the bases still loaded, Donfrancesco's wild pitch against the next batter scored Merzel.
Orioles up, 4-3. After nearly 13 innings, it looked like the long sweltering day might finally end.
The first two Sox went down quietly in the bottom of the thirteenth. But Padovano singled. Triveri
singled. Donfrancesco stepped in against Merzel again. Again, it took many pitches.
This time Donfrancesco won.
His double to center scored Padovano with the tying run, and sent the plump-footed Triveri slouching
toward home with the potential game-ender.
Out.
No matter. Triveri dusted himself off and climbed the hill to pitch a scoreless fifteenth and
sixteenth. A few innings previous, Framingham's Walter Currie had exploded his hamstring, leaving
the O's with eight players. Seldom-used Stan Pulnik promptly dropped his scorebook and ran out to
second base like a free-range chicken. Meanwhile, no one knew the name of the Oriole rightfielder.
He seemed to have wandered in from the woods...
In the bottom of the sixteenth, Ashland's Paul Murphy (on base 4 times) led off with a walk. Brian
Farrell (2-for-4 on the day) sacrificed him over. John Badaracco -- whose clutch base hit ended the
23-inning doubleheader that brought the Red Sox the title last year -- struck out.
With two down, clean-up batter Brent McKenzie stepped in. He lofted an easy pop to Mark Knowlton at short.
Maybe it was simply time for the game to end.
Because Golden dropped the ball.
That was it.
"I had to leave after the tenth inning to get down to the Cape for a wake," said winning manager
Steve Saraceno afterwards. "I rushed home, showered, dressed, drove down Route 495 listening to
Steve Halzel do play-by-play into my cell phone. I got to the funeral home with five minutes to spare.
The game was still going on! This is three o'clock! I turned off my phone, went inside, and paid my
respects. The phone vibrated in my pocket. I walked outside and checked the text-message. It said:
WE WON."
The Red Sox and Orioles meet sometime next week in a regular season finale that may well decide the
American League division winner. Check your local listings for a field near you.
Mariners 8 Indians 7 and Indians 13 Mariners 8
No recaps available.
White Sox 13 Tigers 0 and White Sox 6 Tigers 1
No recaps available.
Braves 7 Cardinals 4 and Braves 8 Cardinals 2
No recaps available.
Cubs 15 Brewers 9 and Cubs 12 Brewers 6
No recaps available.
Dodgers 10 Phillies 2 and Phillies 5 Dodgers 2
No recaps available.
Week 14, 07/22/07
Dodgers 6 Red Sox 3
No recap available.
Braves 10 Mariners 5
No recap available.
Brewers 5 Tigers 3
No recap available.
Cubs 6 Orioles 3
No recap available.
Indians 9 Phillies 5
No recap available.
Cardinals 8 White Sox 7
No recap available.
Week 13, 07/15/07
Red Sox 6 Tigers 3 and Red Sox 5 Tigers 4
The Ashland Red Sox swept the Sudbury Tigers 6-3 and 5-4 in extra innings on a hot sunny Sunday
at Feeley Field in Sudbury. Sox righthander Steve Saraceno went the distance in both games to
collect two victories. The Red Sox remain in second place in the American League at 9-3, while the
Tigers remain in playoff contention at 4-8.
Game One
Red Sox 6, Tigers 3
The Tigers started strong with three runs (two unearned) in the first. Tiger starter Pete McWalter
held the Sox to one run until the fifth, when Ashland took the lead for good with three scores --
via four walks, an error, and no hits.
Sox starter Steve Saraceno held the Tigers scoreless after the first, scattering nine hits, striking
out six, and walking none en route to his eighth victory of the season.
Offensive stars for the Sox included catcher Brent McKenzie (2-for-3, double), pitcher Saraceno
(2-for-3, on base 3 times), rightfielder Paul Murphy (1-for-2, walk, run, 2 stolen bases), and
first baseman Wayne Sylvia (1-for-2, walk, RBI).
Tigers rightfielder Dave Joyner (2-for-2, double) and second baseman Joe Dervin (2-for-2) led the
Sudbury attack. Brian Harding, Andy Moan, and Chris Farley also collected hits.
Game Two
Red Sox 5, Tigers 4
In his first start ever for the Tigers, righty Christian Galligher found himself in the fifth
inning up 3-0 and just eight outs shy of a no-hitter. But Sox DH Brian Farrell beat out an infield
hit. He quickly circled the bases on a mixture of steals, wild pitches, and passed balls to score
the first Sox run.
Centerfielder John Badaracco next drilled a fastball over the left field fence. It was Badaracco's
first homer since his similar line drive blast in last year's championship finals. This frozen rope
took about two seconds to leave Feeley Field, suddenly closing the deficit to 3-2.
The Tigers had built their lead on a combination of power and defense. In the fourth, Brian Harding
deposited a high Steve Saraceno fastball far over the centerfield fence to put Sudbury up 3-0.
Centerfielder Steve Pinoccs (who had a spectacular day throwing out three runners at the plate,
including the potential winning run in the eighth) made the catch of the year in the bottom half of
that frame. Ashland's Steve Halzel drove a fly deep into the gap. As Pinnocs sped toward leftfielder
Harding, Harding briefly caught the ball and dropped it, but Pinoccs snagged the ball on the fly as
they passed. The exchange somewhat resembled a reverse play in football, the two players fairly
bumping shoulders.
In the sixth Sox first baseman Wayne Sylvia and second baseman Kevin Quinn both walked to start the
inning. After a steal, pitcher Steve Saraceno stroked a single through the shortstop hole, driving
in the tying and lead runs.
For a short time It looked like that would be it. The Red Sox promptly busied themselves with
getting players kicked out of the game and complaining about the Sudbury climate. But in the
seventh the Tigers came back to tie the game when Sox third baseman Paul Murphy, manning that
position for the first time all year, threw two grounders away. Extra innings.
"At this point I told my players I was sick of pitching," said Saraceno, who had thrown fourteen
innings by then. "I threatened to put my brother Victor on the mound. I knew that would shake them
up."
Duly horrified, the Sox loaded the bases in the last half of the ninth. Saraceno (Steve) and
leftfielder Chris Cronin walked. Halzel collected an infield hit. With two out, Brian Farrell
stroked a grounder into left to win the game and complete the sweep.
Saraceno threw 16 innings on the day, allowing just two earned runs. He is now 9-2 on the season
with a 1.72 ERA in 84 innings.
Offensive stars for the Sox included Brent McKenzie (3-for-5 on the day), Steve Saraceno
(3-for-5 on day, on base five times), Brian Farrell (2-for-4), and of course Badaracco going park.
The Tigers attack was led by Chris Farley (2 hits, 3-for-5 on the day) and Harding (2 hits,
including the homer).
White Sox 13 Mariners 2 and White Sox 5 Mariners 3
No recaps available.
Orioles 5 Indians 2 and Orioles 9 Indians 5
No recaps available.
Dodgers 6 Braves 3 and Dodgers 9 Braves 3
No recaps available.
Cardinals 7 Cubs 0 and Cubs 8 Cardinals 4
No recaps available.
Phillies 16 Brewers 4 and Phillies 12 Brewers 5
No recaps available.
Week 12, 07/08/07
Red Sox 10 Mariners 2
The Ashland Red Sox drew 15 walks in a game for the second time this year en route to a 10-2
victory over the Holliston Mariners on a hot dusty Sunday in Ashland.
The Red Sox remain in second place in the American League with a record of 7-3.
The Mariners drop to 2-8 on the season.
Outfielder-first baseman Wayne Sylvia (2-for-3, double, walk), third baseman Steve Triveri
(2-for-4), and shortstop Mike Auren (4 walks) led the Red Sox attack. Other offensive
notables included catcher Brent McKenzie and pitcher Steve Saraceno (both 1-for-2 with 2 walks).
In the second inning rightfielder Steve Linda clouted what was said to be the first ground-rule
double at the Ashland field since Shoeless Joe Jackson passed through town in 1934, apparently
on his way to buy shoes.
The Mariners offense was led Mike Breslau (2-for-3), Brian Consigli (1-for-1, walk), and Pete
Daly (triple, with a smooth escape from a rundown to score the Mariners' final tally in the fourth).
The Red Sox defense turned in several key plays: In the the second inning first baseman Vic
Saraceno relayed a Sylvia throw from right to double up the Mariner's Consigli at home plate,
killing a rally. In the fourth, catcher McKenzie cut down two potential base stealers. In the
fifth, leftfielder Chris Cronin gunned out Breslau at home to close that frame. And throughout
the game centerfielder John Badaracco ran down some tough drives.
"In order to give the defense something to do, I like to let the other team hit the ball as hard
as possible," said Sox starter Steve Saraceno after the game. The generous righty gave up eight
hits, walked two and struck out seven en route to his seventh complete game of the season.
Saraceno is now 7-2 with a 1.87 ERA in 68 innings pitched.
Ashland would like to thank Chris Shea's Mariners for the hard work they put in preparing the
field before the game -- especially considering it was Ashland's field. "That shows a commitment
to playing your best no matter what," said Saraceno. "And it is appreciated."
Orioles 13 Tigers 2
No recap available.
White Sox 7 Indians 4
No recap available.
Brewers 12 Braves 11
No recap available.
Cubs 15 Phillies 1
No recap available.
Cardinals 23 Dodgers 8
No recap available.
Week 11, 07/01/07
Cubs 7 Indians 1
Tom Barnes dominated the Marlborough Indians, allowing seven hits and an unearned run in eight
innings, to lead the Southborough Cubs to a 7-1 win at Mooney Field.
Barnes struck out six, walked three, and hit a batter. The veteran lefty set the tone early by
picking off runners in the first two innings.
Alex Scott, Eddie Murray, Rich Wenning, and Rich Schwarz had two hits each for the Cubs, who
improved to 7-2 with the win.
Hugh Cornwell (two singles) was the only Indian with a multi-hit game. The Indians (6-3) came into
the game averaging 11 runs and 13 hits through their first eight contests. The Tribe left 13 runners
on base, including the bases loaded in the eighth and ninth innings.
Randy Pina did an outstanding job on the hill for the Indians, tossing four and two-third innings
of relief.
Cardinals 6 Red Sox 5
No recap available.
Orioles 11 Brewers 7
No recap available.
Mariners 3 Dodgers 2
No recap available.
Tigers at Braves
No score available.
White Sox 10 Phillies 4
No recap available.
Week 10, 06/24/07
Red Sox 2 White Sox 1 and White Sox 8 Red Sox 4
The Ashland Red Sox split a doubleheader with the Worcester White Sox in the first meeting ever
between these two strong teams on a beautiful June day in Ashland.
Game 1 Red Sox 2, White Sox 1
Steve Saraceno notched his 70th pitching win in the MetroWest League with a tense 2-1 decision
over Worcester's Tommy Magnusson.
Both starters went the distance. Saraceno struck out seven and walked zero to raise his season's
record to 6-1. Magnusson allowed fewer hits (6) than Saraceno (8). But the Worcester righthander
fell victim to walks and some crucial miscues in the field.
Ashland's eventual winning run came on a double steal in the third inning following a Steve Linda
walk. Steve Halzel stole second for the first time since the Reagan Administration as John
Badaracco raced home from third.
Hitting stars for the Red Sox included Brian Farrell (3-for-4 on the day to raise his average to
.500 at mid-season), Badaracco (2-for-2, double), Halzel (double), and Steve Triveri (sac fly RBI).
On the defensive side, third baseman Mike Donfrancesco, shortstop Mike Auren, and first baseman
Victor Saraceno turned in key plays.
The White Sox attack was led by rightfielder Lou Decataldo (double, on base three times),
Dan Fuller (2-for-3), and Jeff Humphrey (2-for-3).
Saraceno worked out of several jams. The most dangerous came in the fourth after one White Sox
run had scored. With the bases loaded and one out, Saraceno caught Craig Delman looking on a
3-2 curve. Then he induced Tim Bonin to ground to short to end the threat.
Game 2 White Sox 8, Red Sox 4
Starting game two with only 9 players, Worcester sent 10 men to the plate in the first inning,
6 of which scored on 8 hits.
The rest of the game came down to White Sox starter Shaun Beauregard holding the Red Sox hit
dogs prettty much at bay. Reliever Mike Filipkowski came on late to keep the leash tight at 8-4.
Hitting stars abounded for the White Sox: Dan Fuller (3-for-4, with 5 total hits on the day),
Tim Bonin (2-for-3), Craig Delman (2-for-3, double), Kevin Ryan (2-for-3, double),
Filipkowski (2-for-4), Lou Decataldo (1-for-2, on base six times in doubleheader), and John
Gilbert (1-for-1).
Ashland's Mike Donfrancesco pitched a strong 5 1/3 innings in relief. Brent McKenzie and Brian
Farrell each went 2-for-3, third baseman Steve Southard increased his average to .471 with yet
another hit. Starter and loser Steve Triveri reached base four times on the day, and Ashland's
newest addition, Paul Murphy, a MetroWest League veteran, ripped his first Red Sox single in the
sixth.
The doubleheader split left the Red Sox at 6-2 and the White Sox at 5-3 for the first half of
the regular season.
"George Scobie's White Sox look like a strong addition to the league," said Red Sox Manager
Steve Saraceno after the game. "What I can't understand though, is why their socks are black.
Baseball is a game of many mysteries and perhaps this is one that will never be solved."
Indians 17 Tigers 2 and Indians 17 Tigers 5 Game 1 Indians 17 Tigers 2
Jack Buchanan hurled a six-inning, complete-game four-hitter, backed by a 15-hit attack as the
Marlborough Indians downed the Sudbury Tigers, 17-2, in the first game of a doubleheader at Feeley
Field.
Steve Courtwright had three hits and Hugh Cornwell hit a two-run homer to highlight a seven-run
fourth-inning outburst for Marlborough. Mike Richards, Tom Pare, and Jeremy McCormick also had two
hits each for the Tribe, and Craig Macauley drove home three runs.
Buchanan (2-0) allowed the first two runners he faced to score as Steve Pinnocs and Chris Parlante
singled in the top of the first. After walks to Brian Harding and Mike Phrang, and a sacrifice fly
by Mitch Williams, Buchanan got out of the jam on the first of several nice plays at third by Mike
Togneri. No runner reached third the rest of the way against Buchanan, who struck out one and walked
three.
The Indians cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning on two-out singles by Pare (who
stole second) and McCormick.
It stayed that way until the Indians sent their full roster of 12 to the plate in the fourth, with
seven of the first eight batters scoring. The Indians batted around again in the sixth, adding
another nine runs to salt the game away.
Game 2 Indians 17, Tigers 5
It was Dave Rymsza’s turn to keep the Tigers off the board while the Indian hitters teed off
against Tiger pitching. Rymsza threw a seven-inning complete game, striking out five and allowing
three earned runs to improve to 2-1 on the year. Rymsza also hit a titanic three-run homer in the
Indians’ four-run second inning.
Mike Giordano, Richards, and Rymsza had two hits for the Tribe. Buchanan, Pare, and McCormick had
two RBIs each, while Rymsza knocked home four.
The Tigers once again took the lead by plating their first two batters. Pinnocs and Parlante walked,
followed by a double from Phrang and a single by Paul Valentino. On Valentino’s hit, Phrang was
cut down at the plate on a relay from Giordano to Rymsza to McCormick to limit the damage.
After scoring a single run and leaving the bases loaded in the first, the Tribe took command with
four in the second. The Indians still had two on with no one out when Sudbury dodged a bullet, as
Andy Moan plucked a Richards line drive off his shoetops and turned it into a triple play.
The Indians got three more in the third and then sent 14 men to the plate in a nine-run fifth.
Harding homered in the fifth for the Tigers, and first-game starter Williams threw two innings of
hitless relief to stop the bleeding.
Marlborough improved to 6-2 at the halfway point of the season, while the Tigers dropped to 3-5.
Orioles 4 Mariners 1 and Orioles 4 Mariners 0
No recaps available.
Cubs 11 Braves 7 and Cubs 7 Braves 0
No recaps available.
Dodgers 9 Brewers 1 and Dodgers 9 Brewers 3
No recaps available.
Cardinals 7 Phillies 3 and Phillies 8 Cardinals 5
No recaps available.
Week 9, 06/17/07
Red Sox 5 Phillies 0
The Ashland Red Sox shut out the Medway Phillies 5-0 at Ashland in a well-played reprise of
last year's championship finals.
The 5-1 Red Sox remain in first place in the American League (tied with the Framingham Orioles).
The Phillies' record drops to 2-4.
"Some of our hitters are absolutely on fire," observed Sox skipper Steve Saraceno after the game.
"Brian Farrell, Steve Southard, Mike Auren -- stand back, hot bats, hot bats!"
Farrell (2-for-3) stroked a double during a key fourth inning rally. Later, Auren (2-for-3) legged
out his third triple in his last two games. He also turned in a solid job at short.
Others assisting the Red Sox cause included first baseman Pete Greene (1-for-2), leftfielder
Chris Cronin (1-for-1, walk, RBI), catcher Brent McKenzie (1-for-3), rightfielder Wayne Sylvia
(1-for-2), centerfielder John Badaracco (1-for-3), and bench person Vic Saraceno (1-for-2).
Steve Saraceno's complete game five-hitter lifts his record to 5-1 on the year. He struck out
three and walked none. In 44 innings pitched this year, Saraceno has walked only two batters.
Phillies ace Jamie Nix pitched well in defeat, as did manager Rick Huckins in a short relief
stint. Nix was hurt by two botched rundowns in the fourth. Chris Decatur (2-for-3, double) and
Brian Gibbons (2-for-3) provided most of the Phils' offense.
Cardinals 12 Mariners 4
No recap available.
Dodgers 5 Tigers 3
No recap available.
Orioles 11 Braves 3
No recap available.
Indians 8 Brewers 2
Jeff Stiles was dominant on the mound, allowing two runs (one earned) and six hits over eight innings
to lead the Marlborough Indians to an 8-2 win over the Wayland Brewers at Wayland High. Stiles struck
out 11 Brewers and walked only one to improve to 2-1 on the year.
Stiles mixed his pitches well all day and, from the third inning through the seventh, retired 14
consecutive batters.
Dave Laliberte busted out of an early-season slump with a triple and a double, and Hugh Cornwell,
Jack Buchanan and Dave Rymsza added two hits each to pace the Tribe’s 12-hit attack.
The key for the Indians was a five-run second inning. Steve Courtwright singled with one out, and
two stolen bases later, scored on a Randy Pina single. Laliberte’s triple plated Pina, and after a
walk and stolen base, Buchanan drove home two more runs with a single. Mike Giordano’s single later
in the inning accounted for the frame’s final run.
Steve Darrah, Mark Lemons, Cort Montross, Brian Waldman, Tom Aghinetti, David Fitzgerald, and Bill
Hoover had the hits for the Brewers.
Buchanan pitched a scoreless ninth for the Indians, who improved to 4-2 with the win.
White Sox 7 Cubs 6
No recap available.
Week 8, 06/10/07
Indians 13 Braves 6
Dave Rymsza belted a grand slam and Tom Pare was four-for-four as the Marlborough Indians downed
the Millis Braves, 13-6, at Memorial Field. It was the Indians’ first win over the Braves since
2003, a losing string of seven games.
The game was close until the ninth when the Tribe blew open an 8-5 game with a five-run rally.
Jack Buchanan (1-0) got the win for the Indians, with relief help from Rymsza and Jeff Stiles.
Buchanan went six-plus innings, yielding eight hits and four runs, two earned. Rymsza threw two
innings of one-hit ball, allowing only an unearned run. Stiles mopped up, posting one of
everything (i.e., inning, hit, run, earned run, strikeout, walk, and hit batsman).
Mike Pielta led the Braves’ 10-hit attack with a pair of singles, and Steve Govini drove home two runs.
The Braves led, 3-2, into the fourth, scoring a run in each of the first three frames. The Tribe
tied it in the fourth on a triple by Pare and a sacrifice fly from Jeremy McCormick. Rymsza then
walked, stole second, and scored on Randy Pina’s base hit, giving the Indians’ the lead for good.
Leading 5-3 into the seventh, Marlborough secured some breathing room in the eighth on back-to-back
doubles by McCormick and Rymsza and consecutive singles by Pina, Steve Courtwright, and Markian
Stecyk. Braves starter Rich Moran worked out of the jam by inducing a double play and a fly out to
keep the score 8-3.
Millis got back within three with a pair of runs in the bottom half. Mike Londregan and Pielta
singled and came around with the help of three Indians’ errors.
The Indians sent 11 men to the plate in the ninth as Moran finally tired. Stiles, late arriving due
to a last-minute work commitment, tripled leading off in his only at-bat of the game. Mike Giordano
(double, three runs scored) walked and took second on defensive indifference, and Pare followed with
a single into short left-center, loading the bases for Rymsza. The Indians’ rookie belted a long fly
to left that caught the wind and carried over the adjacent Little League Field for what may be the
first grand slam in the Indians’ 11-year history.
The Indians improved to 3-2, while the Braves fell to 1-4.
Cubs 3 Red Sox 1
No recap available.
Phillies 8 Mariners 2
No recap available.
Cardinals 7 Tigers 4
No recap available.
Orioles 6 Dodgers 5
No recap available.
White Sox 11 Brewers 9
No recap available.
Week 7, 06/03/07
Red Sox 11 Indians 10
Ashland, MA~After finding themselves behind 2-0 in the top half of the first frame, the Ashland
Red Sox pounced on the Indians for a nine spot in the latter half of the inning. Six of those
runs came off of bases clearing extra base hits by Steve Triveri, and SS Mike Auren. A sacrifice
fly by McKenzie, and RBI singles by Halzel and Cronin had the hometown team shifting into cruise
control in the hopes of coasting to an easy win.
But the tribe continued to chip away, plating runs in the 5th, 7th, and four in the 8th to pull
within two. In the top half of the 9th, the impossible comeback seemed not so impossible as the
boys from Marlboro pushed two more men across the dish to make it 10-10.
This time, however, Custer was able to rally his troops, as Steve Saraceno singled home Auren
with the winning run after it looked like he would be stranded on third after tripling with
nobody out. For Auren, it was his second triple of the game, which were also his first two
MWABL hits, a feat as rare as the sight of Victor Saraceno scoring his own run.
Tigers 14 Mariners 6
No recap available.
Orioles 9 White Sox 4
No recap available.
Phillies 2 Braves 1
No recap available.
Cardinals 15 Brewers 5
No recap available.
Cubs 7 Dodgers 2
No recap available.
Week 3, 05/06/07
Red Sox 12 Brewers 5
No recap available.
Cubs 10 Mariners 9
No recap available.
Tigers 12 Phillies 5
No recap available.
Cardinals 14 Orioles 4
No recap available.
Indians 4 Dodgers 3
In what was truly a game of inches, the Marlborough Indians edged the expansion Dodgers, 4-3, at
Bauks Field. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jerry Guerra’s
check-swing soft liner fell just in front of charging shortstop Eric Niccoli, allowing pinch runner
Mike Richards to score the game-winner.
That ended a tense, well-played ballgame between the teams. All three pitchers – Jack Buchanan and
Dave Rymsza for the Indians and Randy Fesh for the Dodgers – were outstanding. Defensively, each team
made only a single harmless error.
The Indians improved to 2-1 with their first win at Bauks Field since August 7, 2005. The Dodgers
fell to 1-2. Mike Togneri was the offensive star for the Indians, belting a two-out double to tie
the game in the fifth and walking to lead off the decisive ninth.
After Buchanan pitched to the minimum number of Dodgers through the first three innings, the
visitors broke through with two runs in the fourth. Andy Oppenheim and Art Niccoli sandwiched singles
around one of Buchanan’s four strikeouts. Erik Neyland singled home Oppenheim, and Nate Nagy followed
with another single to load the bases and set up one of the game’s pivotal plays.
Dave Christian dropped a single into short right field, but with only one out, the runners had to
hold until the ball fell. Mike Giordano’s throw home was wide left of catcher Jeremy McCormick as
the runner scored from third. But first baseman Dave Rymsza alertly backed the play up and tossed
to McCormick to gun down Neyland at the plate. McCormick then made a perfect throw to third and
Togneri tagged out Nagy to end the inning and the threat.
The Indians tied it in the bottom of the fourth. Craig Macauley walked and went to third on
Buchanan’s single. Giordano singled home Macauley and Richards plated pinch-runner Guerra with a
sacrifice fly to tie the game.
The Dodgers went up by one in the fifth when Vladislav Zilberman walked, moved to second on Fesh’s
single and scored on Nate McLeod’s single to left. After another walk, the Dodgers left the bases
loaded when Buchanan induced a fly out to end the inning.
The Indians came right back to tie it in the bottom half. McCormick walked leading off and pinch-runner
Giordano stole second. Two outs later, with Giordano on third and the Indians in danger of wasting
another opportunity, Togneri scorched a two-strike gap double to knot the game at 3-3.
Both teams threatened in the eighth. The Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs against Rymsza, but
the rookie lefty got one of his four strikeouts to end it. On the previous at-bat, Richards made a
diving stop at shortstop to keep Rodney German’s infield hit in the infield and save a run. The
Indians wasted a leadoff single by Stiles in the bottom half.
In the Indians’ ninth, Togneri walked and pinch-runner Richards stole second. Walks to Dave Laliberte
and Randy Pina loaded the bases and set up the decisive play.
Fesh was impressive for the Dodgers, yielding eight hits in 8 1/3 innings, striking out five and
walking only two until the ninth. Rymsza (1-0) got his first career win for the Tribe with four
innings of two-hit, scoreless ball.
White Sox 12 Braves 1
No recap available.
Week 2, 04/29/07
Red Sox 9 Mariners 2
Holliston, MA--The Sox improved their record to 2-0 to start the season for the first time in their
six year history with a tasty blend of strong pitching and timely hitting. For the second week in a
row, the menu was sparse in the early innings, with Mariners starter John Gatti serving up just one
base knock over the first 4 innings. Not to be outdueled, Sox second year hurler Steve Triveri took
a no-hitter into the sixth before being chased by 5 hits from the first six batters in the home half
of the frame. Enter Steve Saraceno to take Triveri of the hook, working his way out of a bases loaded
jam by inducing a pop up to short and striking out the next batter looking.
Once again the boys from Ashland came from behind in the latter innings erupting for 6 runs in the
7th and another 3 in the 8th, all started by Triveri, who decided he had no intention of taking the
loss. Triveri would add an RBI insurance run in the 8th, to go along with the hot bat of leadoff
hitter Brian Farrell. Before the barrage was over, Sox hitters Badaracco, Halzel, and Steve Saraceno
would also send a teammate past homeplate.
Defensively, both teams hung tight, with the Sox guilty of just one miscue after shaking off the
opening week jitters. Rookie SS Mike Auren was solid again, recording multiple assists, including the
front end of a nifty double play, while Chris 'What Position Am I Playing Again?' Cronin saw more
action than the No Tell Motel with a baker's half dozen putouts in center and left.
The ASox barnstorm their way back to the friendly confines of the Ashland ballyard this Sunday, 5/6
at 10:00AM. Tickets are still available.
Orioles 11 Tigers 7
No recap available.
Indians 11 White Sox 4
Sterling pitching performances from Jack Buchanan and Jeff Stiles, backed by an errorless defense,
led the Marlborough Indians to an 11-4 victory over the Worcester White Sox at Fitton Field in
Worcester.
Stiles added four RBIs, including a bases-clearing double in the Tribe’s six-run third. Mike
Richards and Buchanan had two hits each in the Indians’ 13-hit attack, and Mike Giordano knocked
home two runs.
Craig Delman rapped two hits and scored two runs for the White Sox, while Dan Fuller went
three-for-four with a double.
Both teams are 1-1, a game behind the frontrunners in the American League.
The Indians opened the scoring in the second with a run off White Sox starter Kevin Ryan. Steve
Courtwright smashed a triple to center and scored on Mike Togneri’s ground out.
The White Sox, in their inaugural Metrowest ABL season, took the lead with a couple of runs off
Buchanan in the bottom half. Fuller’s two-out, bases-loaded single plated Delman and Brian McDonnell.
The Indians scored six runs with two out to take control in the third. Jerry Guerra beat out an
infield hit and went to second on Buchanan’s single to right. After a wild pitch moved the runners
up, Giordano singled both home. The Tribe wasn’t done. Richards was hit by a pitch and Tom Pare
walked, setting up Stiles’ big hit. Rookie Dave Rymsza drove Stiles home with his third hit of the
young season and it was 7-2.
The Indians added three runs in the fourth against reliever Shaun Beauregard. Courtwright walked,
Togneri and Markian Stecyk singled, and Dave Laliberte doubled. Beauregard settled down from there
and held the Indians hitless until a Buchanan single with two out in the eighth.
The White Sox made it 10-4 in the bottom of the fourth on RBI singles by Delman and Tim Bonin.
The final Indians run came in the ninth when Richards singled, went to second on a passed ball,
to third on a ground out, and scored on a Stiles sacrifice fly.
Stiles (1-1) got the win with five scoreless innings in relief of Buchanan. He allowed six hits,
struck out two and walked two.
Braves 8 Brewers 6
No recap available.
Cubs 11 Phillies 3
No recap available.
Dodgers 5 Cardinals 4
No recap available.
Week 1, 04/22/07
Red Sox 6 Braves 4
Leadoff hitter and DH Brian Farrell had three hits with a double, an RBI, and run scored to lead the
Ashland Red Sox to a 7-4 win against the Braves in Ashland in their only meeting this year. Veteran
righty Steve Saraceno scattered 8 hits and struck out 7 while giving up just one earned run in the
complete game win.
The game was scoreless into the fourth, when the Braves scored twice in the top half. The Red Sox
finally got to starter Rich Moran in the fifth, capped by third baseman Steve Southard’s game-tying
single. The Sox scored five more in the seventh with three hits and three walks. The Braves plated
their final two in the top of the ninth.