Baptista Gives Chiefs 5-4 Walk-Off Win Over Blue Sox

The Andre Chiefs scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning to come away with a 5-4 walk-off win over the Lexington Blue Sox on Wednesday night at Maplewood.

The game was tied at 2-2 when a 27 minute rain delay stopped play in the top of the third inning. After play resumed, Jake Elbeery’s two RBI single in the fifth gave the Blue Sox a 4-2 lead.

Facing a two run hole in their last at bat, the Chiefs scored three times to take the win. Tyler Ferdinand got things started when he drew a walk from Sox reliever Dawy LeBron and Nick Valdario singled to center. After two unsuccessful bunt attempts both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Number nine hitter Cam Cinelli then singled to center, scoring Ferdinand, to cut the lead to 4-3. Juan Parra was next up and he singled to load the bases with nobody out. Miles Reid followed and tied things up at 4-4 with a single to center, scoring Valdario, and leaving the bases loaded with still nobody out. LeBron settled in and struck out Teddy Dziuba and Andrew Caulfield in succession to set the stage for John Baptista who singled sharply to left to score Cinelli with the game winner. 

Cameron Breault (1-0) picked up the win for the Chiefs, working a scoreless top of the seventh, in relief of starter Evan Walsh (5 innings, 8 hits, 5 K’s) and A.J. Rourke (1 inning, 1 K). LeBron (0-1) took the loss. Lexington starter Chris Winant went four solid innings with three K’s before giving way to lefty Ryan O’Rourke who allowed two hits and struck out a batter in his two scoreless innings.

Austin Masel and Julian Alvarez each had RBI’s for the Blue Sox in the first and second innings. Baptista and shortstop Nate Witkowski added RBI singles for the Chiefs in their two run first inning.

The Malden Maddogs-Melrose Americans game at Morelli Field was rained out.

On Thursday, the Chiefs travel to Lexington to meet the Bulldogs at 7:00 PM and the Sabertooth Expos host the Americans at Maplewood at 8:00 PM.