Lexington – Chris Wanat and Dan Metzdorf combined on a five-hitter to lead Lexington to a 3-1 win over Melrose in the first game of their semifinal series. Game Two is today at Melrose High School’s Morelli Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8:00 pm. Wanat started and pitched five strong innings. He scattered five hits, struck out one, and walked none. He picked up his first playoff win for the Blue Sox. Dan Metzdorf pitched the final two innings for the Sox and recorded his first save in either the regular season or playoffs. The lefty struck out three and gave up one hit. Lexington scored first as leadoff hitter David VanderZouwen tripled to start the bottom of the first for the Sox. Brendan Jones singled to center, and VanderZouwen trotted home for the 1-0 lead. The Blue Sox added two more runs in the fourth. Anderson Jimenez started the inning with a double to left. Will Norris dropped a bunt down the third base line, and Jimenez beat the throw to put runners on first and third. Owen McKiernan hit a grounder to short, and the Americans forced Norris at second, but McKiernan beat the relay throw, and Jimenez scored for a 2-0 lead. McKiernan moved to third on a stolen base and an infield out before scoring on a wild pitch for the 3-0 lead. The Americans got on the board against Wanat in the fifth. In an eight-pitch at bat, Aidan Barry singled to begin the inning. Barry stole second and moved to third on a flyout to center. He scored on Tad Giardina’s infield out to cut the lead to 3-1. Alex Parisi started for Melrose. He pitched four innings, gave up six hits, three runs, walked, and struck out 2. Ben Cassavoy tossed the final two innings, allowing 2 hits, no runs, and walking two. This is the third postseason series between the Blue Sox and Melrose. Lexington won the previous two series and is 5-1 in games. The 3-1 score equals the lowest score in a playoff game between the Sox and Americans. Lexington won 3-1 on August 17, 2009 in the first playoff series between the two teams.
