Blue Sox Open Championship Series With Win

Something had to give between the Lexington Blue Sox and the Watertown Reds. Both entered the opening game of the Intercity League championship series having yet to lose a playoff game.

The upstart Reds swept the Reading Bulldogs in the first round before making quick work of the Andre Chiefs in the semifinals. Lexington, with the luxury of a first-round bye, needed only to beat the Wakefield Merchants three straight times to reach the final series.

The three-time defending champion Blue Sox emerged from the battle of unbeatens with a 2-0 victory at Lexington High School on Monday night.

"We executed tonight in all phases and facets of the game," Lexington Manager Rick DeAngelis said. "We got great pitching, good defense and timely hitting."

It was another in what has seemed like an unending string of playoff pitchers' duels for Lexington. The Blue Sox have outscored opponents 13-3 this postseason, while scoring more than three runs on just one occasion (the 6-1 win over Wakefield in Game 1 of the semifinals).

This time it was Drew Brzozowski out-dueling the Reds' Brian Casey, who pitched on four days rest.

Weather conditions weren't ideal for pitching on short rest. Moisture hung in the air like a wet blanket.

Casey (seven innings, two runs allowed, eight hits, two strikeouts, two walks) started well enough, allowing just one hit the first time through the Lexington order. But the hits came in bunches once the Blue Sox got their second and third looks at the Reds' starter.

"I don't think he wanted to get behind us, so we just kept seeing his fastball over and over again," Blue Sox third baseman Ross Curley (2-for-3, double) said. "The slider, his second pitch, wasn't really hitting the zone, so we knew he was going to try to get ahead and beat us with his fastball."

Lexington had seven hits from the third inning on and a total of eight for the game. Three of the hits came in the third inning to get the Blue Sox on the scoreboard.

After two quick groundouts, Pete Frates, Curley and Steve Gath followed with three straight singles. Frates scored on Gath's hit, while Curley moved to third on the play.

Casey walked designated hitter Dan Graham (1-for-1, two walks) to load the bases, but got out the inning without further damage when Ben Hewett grounded out to the shortstop.

The Blue Sox added their insurance run the next inning. Matt McEvoy followed an Eric Poling flyout with a single. Dan Capra advanced McEvoy to third with a single of his own and No. 9 hitter Tom Haugh brought the run home with a groundout.

"They were on a five-game win streak themselves, so we knew it was going to be a tough game," Curley (2-for-3 with a double) said. "The first one is always the biggest one of the series. We got ourselves ahead and today we really just tried to take it one inning at a time and win every inning."

While Casey labored, Brzozowski (seven innings, seven strikeouts, three hits, one walk) cruised along for Lexington. He allowed two baserunners in the first inning (single, walk), but then set down the next 13 batters he faced – five by way of the strikeout.

From the end of the first until Bryan Evans' double in the fifth inning, Chris Burke's flyout to center field was the only ball to leave the infield. Brzozowski forced five groundouts and two popouts (one in foul territory).

"I consider (Brzozowski) to be an outstanding pitcher," DeAngelis said.

Watertown's Luke Begley doubled in the sixth and Jay Olson was hit by a pitch in the seventh, but both runners were left stranded.

Game 2 of the championship series shifts to Watertown's Victory Field on Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. The series moves back to Lexington for Game 3 on Wednesday.