Late Inning Magic Continues as Bulldogs Defeat Merchants 5-4

Reading (5) –B. Flutie 3-1, Cataldo 2-2, Manzi 2-0, Talis 3-0, Fischer 2-1,  Buitkus 3-1, O’Leary 3-2, Halsey 1-1, Dellorfon 2-0,  Totals 21-7

Wakefield (4)-  Townsend 4-1, Searles 3-1, Sorrentino 3-2, J. Papa 4-0, L. Papa 2-1, Hartung 3-2, Roth 3-1, Ramsey 2-1, Losanno 2-0,  Totals 26-9

Doubles—Ramsey,  Cataldo

Triples—Sorrentino

WP- McGinn  (1-3)    LP-  Quirk   (0-1)

Reading       000113    5    8   0
Wakefield     020020    4    9   2

Wrap:

The Bulldogs pulled off the best of their many recent comebacks in defeating the Merchants 5-4 on Wednesday night at Walsh Field in a six-inning game shortened due to darkness.

With the win, Reading (13-12-1) was able to hold solid to the fifth of six playoffs slots entering the final six games of the regular season starting on Sunday.

Trailing 4-2 and down to their last out with no runners on base, the Bulldogs rallied for three runs to turn the tables on Wakefield from the night before. This was the fifth time in the last nine games that the Bulldogs have tied a game or gone ahead in their last at-bat.

Kevin O’Leary started the sixth inning comeback with a single (five hits in the two game series) and, after a John Halsey single and two walks, Bill Cataldo came through once again with a two run single knocking in the tying and winning runs.

“We rely on everyone on the team here, and all have made important contributions,” said Coach Morrison, “but Billy has been the team’s most valuable player, hands down. Right now, he is performing like one of the top players in the League”.

Early on, it did not look good for the Bulldogs' chances when they had a runner thrown out at the plate for the second straight night and another called out for leaving the base early on a tag up play.

Wakefield took advantage of the Bulldog’s missed opportunities when James Ramsey hit a two run double just inside the first base bag for a 2-0 lead in the second inning.

Reading scrapped back to tie the game on a sacrifice fly from Halsey in the fourth inning followed in the fifth with Trevor Manzi's  long out to centerfield which scored Cataldo, whom had doubled.

The Bulldogs have suffered from some late inning mishaps this season, and it looked like it would bite them again in the bottom of the fifth. Andy Hartung’s two-out fly ball to right center ended up dropping in for a two run single when Alex Fischer and Steve Buitkus collided going for the ball.

On the play, Fischer suffered an injury and, with a short bench, the Bulldogs had to insert a pitcher into a fielding position. That left the team with four players playing out of position as Wakefield took their final turn at bat.

Bulldog right-hander Colin McGinn took the pressure off the defense by striking out two batters in the last inning, earning his first win after some tough luck losses.

O’Leary, who had started the game winning rally, was impressed with the character the team has shown of late.

“We are showing a lot of heart with these comebacks. Losing by two runs and Fish getting hurt didn’t cause us to lose focus; we all just did our jobs and didn’t get discouraged by the adversity,” O'Leary said.

For Morrison, the late inning comeback just solidified his appreciation of his team.

“I can’t say enough about the way the guys have played over the past couple of weeks since the losing streak ended," he said. "We haven’t won all the games, but we grind every game and tonight was a nice reward for that type of persistence.”