Andre Chiefs on Brink of Elimination in ICL Championship Series

There’s a simple concept behind what the Andre Chiefs need to do in order for the Intercity League championship series to go past the minimum three games.

“A win,” manager Chuck Andre said bluntly after his club dropped Game 2 to the Lexington Blue Sox 8-1 at Lexington High School on Thursday night.

But, so far, wins have been tough to come by for the Chiefs against the four-time defending ICL champions. In Wednesday’s Game 1 it was a lack of offense that doomed the upset-minded Chiefs. On Thursday, it was the team’s pitching that caved and allowed the Blue Sox to take a 2-0 series lead.

Lexington recorded 13 totals hits, including seven from the bottom half of the lineup. In fact, the Blue Sox’s Nos. 6-9 hitters were 7-for-11 with four RBIs and six runs scored. The group – Matt McEvoy, Ross Curley, Tommy Haugh and Dan Capra – was 6-for-6 through four innings.

“There’s not really much to say,” Andre said. “They out-played us all around. We just have to come ready to play (Friday) night. They’re a tough team 1-9.”

On Friday night, the Blue Sox have a chance to become the first team in ICL history to win five straight league titles. Four teams besides Lexington have won four straight. The Chiefs accomplished the feat in 1968-71 when they were known as the Hosmer Chiefs.

First pitch for Game 3 is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. at Pine Banks Park in Malden. If necessary, Game 4 will also be played in Malden on Saturday, weather permitting.

Chiefs starter Tim Dunphy lasted 4 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and no walks allowed in Game 2. However, the left-hander allowed 10 Blue Sox hits and five of their runs, all earned. Reliever Jake Crawford went the final 1 2/3 innings with three runs and two hits allowed.

Neither pitcher had much success with the bottom of the Lexington order.

“A lot of teams, when you get down (that far in the lineup), you’re in the weaker part of their order,” Lexington manager Rick DeAngelis said of his deep lineup. “I know that my 6, 7, 8 and 9 guys are going to battle, and more often than not, they’re going to succeed, because they’re baseball players.”

Haugh and Capra recorded RBI base hits in the second inning and an RBI single and RBI triple, respectively in the fourth. In that span, McEvoy had two singles and two runs scored, while Curley was 1-for-1 with a single, a run scored and a sacrifice.

Also in the fourth inning, Andre broke a 10-inning scoreless drought to start the championship series. Shortstop Mike Baillargeon singled and later scored on first baseman Mike DiCato’s single.

Overall, the Chiefs recorded eight hits off Lexington starter Drew Brzozowski, who pitched a complete game for the victory.

Andre said it was encouraging to see some signs of life from an offense that went silent in Game 1.

“It absolutely is (a good sign),” he said, of the offense, “and we’ll come ready to play tomorrow.”

Lexington, however, broke the game wide open with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Shortstop Steve Gath forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk and catcher Jeff Vigurs drove in two runs with a single to give all the cushion the Blue Sox’s needed for a hit at history.