Lexington wins Game One, 7-3

Melrose – The Lexington Blue Sox won game one of the 2017 finals 7-3 to take a 1-0 lead over the Reading Bulldogs Monday night at Morelli Field.

The Blue Sox scored twice in the first inning to get off to a quick start. The 2017 ICL batting champion, Jeff Costello, started off with a single to right. He took second on an errant pick off throw by Bulldogs first baseman Mike Taylor, and then scored on a double to center by Jeff Vigurs. Vigurs scored the second run as he moved to third on an infield out and then came home on Julian Alvarez’ RBI infield out.

Lexington essentially put the game away in the second scoring four more runs. The Sox loaded the bases on a walk Thomas Russo, and singles by Josue Feliciano and Costello. Russo scored on Vigurs’ RBI fielders choice. Ross Curley reached on a hard-hit single off Bulldogs third baseman Johnny Hayes that scored Feliciano and Vigurs. Dan Graham’s second double of the game plated Curley and the Sox had a 6-0 lead.

Reading did not go quietly as Taylor hit his first 2017 postseason home run in the fourth with Zac Tallis aboard to make it 6-2 in the fourth.

Alex Voitik made it 7-2 in the fifth with a solo home run to left, his first of the 2017 playoffs and the teams first.

The Bulldogs added their third run in the sixth. Mike DeDonato and Tallis singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Taylor’s sacrifice fly to center scored DeDonato. Taylor drove in all three Reading runs.

Ryan Filipowicz started for Lexington and pitched six innings in picking up his second win of the postseason. He allowed all three runs, gave up nine hits, walked none and struck out four. Rob DiFranco closed out the game for the Sox with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

Reading started Zac Levine pitched five innings and took the loss. He gave up 12 hits, walked two and struck out one. Jack Theriault pitched the sixth for Reading.

Game Two is Tuesday night at Morelli with first pitch scheduled for 8:00 p.m.