Post 39 Held to Two Hits Against Wakefield

The Arlington legion baseball team did its best to make every hit count in Wednesday night's game against Wakefield.  Unfortunately for Post 39, it only managed two of them in a 10-3 loss at Spy Pond Field in Arlington.

Wakefield (2-9) scored eight runs in the third inning off Arlington starting pitcher Paul McCarthy, all coming with two outs, to take a commanding 8-0 lead and essentially put the game out of reach.

"I think our guy just got a little tired," said Arlington manager Joe Sancinito. "Paul pitched earlier in the week and threw a lot of pitches.  The pitch count got up on him.  They just kind of blooped the ball all over the place.  There's a lot of field and they found the spots where our guys weren't."

Wakefield led off the third with back-to-back singles, but McCarthy quickly recorded two straight outs and appeared to be on his way to getting out of the jam.  However, the next seven batters reached base, three on walks and four on base hits to chase McCarthy after only two and 2/3 innings.

Meanwhile, Wakefield starter Dylan Dennis was wild, but effective, walking three batters and hitting three more in four and 1/3 innings of work. 

Arlington first hit was a big one, a bases-clearing, three-run double in the fifth that cut the lead to 8-3.

"It was tough to dial in on the guy a little bit," said Sancinito.  "He's constantly not throwing strikes and it kind of messes with your approach a little bit, but if he's going to walk that many guys and constantly put guys on base, we've got to be up there ready to hit."

Arlington's only other hit of the game came on a Rob Cahill single in the seventh inning.

Sean Gustin pitched four and one-third innings of strong relief for Arlington, striking out five and allowing only two unearned runs in the seventh.

"Sean pitched really well," said Sancinito.  "He threw strikes and gave us an opportunity to stay in the game and potentially crawl back in it."

Arlington (5-7) is off for the Fourth of July holiday weekend and will resume play at 6 p.m. Monday,  July 5, at Devir Park in Malden.