July 6, 2010 - Malden

 

The Dodgers and Bulldogs put on a show at Maplewood, playing 10 innings to settle a stalemate due to great pitching and solid defense from both squads.

Kyle Breidenstine pitched 9 2/3 innings of shutout ball to earn his 3rd win of the year. 'The Moose' was back to his old form on a humid night, allowing only 3 hits while striking out 4, walking 3 and getting 16 groundball outs.

Malden got a solid couple out of starter Jason Paul, then great bullpen work from Ken Olisky and Jon Shepard. The Dodgers threatened in the 5th (bases loaded, 1 out) and 7th (1 out Steve Walsh 2B), but Olisky got out of both jams.

The only run came on a shot off of the bat of DH Steve DeFusco. DeFusco hit a 10th inning solo HR to left-center field to take the lead. DeFusco then came on to pitch with 2 on and 2 out in the 10th. After a HBP, DeFusco calmed down to get the K and the save.

 

 

June 22, 2010 - Dorchester

 

Beacon Hill and South Boston went to extra innings to decide a great game at Ronan Park. It was a pitcher's duel between Dodger rookie Jon Merritt and Saints' starter Jim Farrell. Both pitchers pitched extremely well and earned a no decision.

Merritt threw 8 innings of 8 hit, 2 run ball, striking out 7 and walking only 1. Farrell was equally impressive, throwing 6 innings of 6 hit, 2 run ball, striking out 6 and walking 3.

Both teams played solid defense, with Dodger CF Kevin Skop cutting down the go-ahead run in the 7th with a seed to C Bryan Duffy. The Saints got the play of the game from SS Andrew Larocque, who made a diving play up the middle to rob LF Joe Patrolia of a hit and the go-ahead run in the 6th.

SS Mike Navarro had the bases loaded walk-off single with two down in the 9th to win a great game, scoring PR Tyler Borosavage. 2B Gregg Smith had 3 hits in the win. 1B Jay Shatto added an RBI single in the 3rd, scoring Patrolia and 3B Jerrad Ryan. DH Steve DeFusco added 2 hits of his own. Dodger reliever Marc Skipper threw the 9th for the win.

 

Dodger Notes:

 

The Dodgers have re-added former SS Derek Barauskas, who played for the Dodgers in 2008. Barauskas, a LaSalle University student, was on the YBL All-Rookie squad in that season. Barauskas will add speed and another solid glove to the Dodgers already deep team.

 

 

-M. Skipper

June 16, 2010 - Brighton

 

The Dodgers break out in a big way at Cleveland Circle, banging out 17 hits to defeat the Al Thomas A's 13-8.

Dodger rookie-starter Jon Merritt (W, 3-1) had another strong showing, scattering 9 hits while striking out and walking 4. The A's got to Merritt in the 2nd for 2 runs, but the southpaw would not allow another run the rest of the way.

Offensively, the Dodgers had a 7-run 3rd inning, led by CF Jay Shatto (2-3, 3 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB), SS Mike Navarro (3-4, R, RBI) and C Bryan Duffy (2-3, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI). 3B Jerrad Ryan, 1B Nick Tapper (2 RBI), LF Gregg Smith (RBI), DH Joe Patrolia and rookie 2B Jamie Aldouplois (RBI) all had 2 hits each. The torrid 3rd-inning surge started with a Patrolia single. Shatto walked with one out follwed by a Navarro single to shallow right to load the bases for Tapper, who singled to drive in Patrolia. Aldoupolis follwed with another run-scoring single. Duffy followed with a big 2-RBI double, clearing the bases in the process as Aldoupolis scored on an error. Smith followed with a double to drive in Duffy. RF Joe Barresi followed with an RBI-groundout to complete the 7-run inning. 

The A's got a huge night from CF Steve Lambert, who reached base all 5 times (2-2, 2 R, 2B, 3B, 2 BB, HBP). The rubber match will be July 13th at Healy Field, and it should be a good one.