Reading (3) – B. Flutie 3-1, Cataldo 3-0, Manzi 3-2, Talis 3-0, Fischer 3-1, O’Leary 3-0, Strukel 2-0, Halsey 1-0, Dellorfon 2-0, Totals 23-5
Watertown (1)- Burke 2-0, Forman 3-2, Busby 3-1, Chiasson 2-0, Callahan 3-1, Bre. Casey 3-1, Tramantozzi 3-0, Matheson 2-0, Renzella 3-1, Totals 24-6
Doubles – Forman
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WP- Brian Casey (7-2) LP- Cotoni (4-2)
Reading 0000000 0 5 2
Watertown 100010X 2 6 1
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Wrap:
The Bulldogs and Reds matched up in a key game, with playoff implications, at Morton Field on Sunday and the Reds prevailed 2-0 in a quickly played pitcher’s duel.
With the loss the Bulldog’s record sits at 13-13-1, and they slipped one place in the standings, falling behind Watertown who now stands in fifth place.
Despite the defeat, the Bulldogs clinched one of the league’s six playoff berths when Arlington was eliminated later in the evening by losing a doubleheader to Lexington. They have now made the playoffs in each of their first two seasons in the Intercity League.
The game was expected to be low scoring, with two of the league’s best pitchers, Brian Casey and Derek Cotoni, as the game's starters. The Reds' Casey was last years Co-Pitcher of the Year in the ICL and was leading the league in wins so far this year.
Watertown’s first inning run was all they would need on the day and it happened after two were out. Steve Busby lined a single to left field and then stole second base; he was knocked home on Sean Callahan’s base hit up the middle.
Casey struck out nine batters including twice striking out the last two hitters of the inning when the Bulldog’s had a runner in scoring position.
Meanwhile, Bulldog lefty Cotoni also dominated, striking out 10 Red batters in six innings, and only giving up one earned run.
The Bulldogs had a chance to tie the game in the fifth when Steve Buitkus singled and reached third base on an error and a passed ball. However, Casey struck out the next two batters to close out Reading’s best chance to tie the game.
In their end of the fifth, the Reds scored an insurance run after a double by Justin Forman and a two out error bringing him home.
The extra run wasn’t needed as Alex Fischer was stranded at first base after leading the inning off with a single as Casey went to work again retiring the last three Bulldogs, to record his seventh victory of the season.
“It was like a playoff game today with the quality of pitching out there”, said Bulldogs' coach Matt Morrison. “It comes down to which team can take advantage of the limited opportunities to score, and today they did and we didn’t."
The Bulldogs will play their final five regular season games this week and will attempt to position themselves as high as the fourth seed entering the playoffs, which are scheduled to begin next Sunday.
