McDonald's Blast Lifts Woburn Over Belmont

After Yankees’ second baseman Robinson Cano won the Home Run Derby Monday night, Woburn’s second baseman Johnny McDonald followed up Tuesday night with some power of his own.

With Woburn’s Senior Babe Ruth team tied 1-1 against visiting Belmont in the bottom of the third inning, McDonald clocked a two-run homer over the 350-foot sign in left at Ferullo Field.

Belmont would come back to tie the game, at 3-3, in the top of the fifth inning. However, Woburn would respond in the bottom half of the inning with three runs, including another McDonald RBI, on way to a 7-3 win.

With Woburn’s Martin Angelucci on the mound, Belmont got on the board in their first at bats. Belmont shortstop Brian Coutts reached on an error and then was batted in by center fielder Kevin Viglirolo, the team’s cleanup hitter.

Angelucci would eventually get the win, allowing two earned runs in five innings of work. He only allowed three hits but walked six batters.

Before McDonald’s blast put Woburn ahead in the third, center fielder Pat Maher tied the game, at 1-1, with an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning. McDonald put teammate Connor Maloney across.

Belmont evened the score in the fifth off back-to-back RBI by Coutts and Viglirolo. The two batted in pitcher Jesse Doe and catcher Devin Kelly, respectively, both of whom reached on walks.

In the bottom half of the fifth, Woburn’s Steve Cain, McDonald and Ryan McCarthy had RBI, with Cain adding another in the sixth to make the final 7-3. First baseman Jake Black, who reached base three times, led off the fifth-inning rally with a double.

McCarthy pitched the final two innings for Woburn and was helped out by two double plays.

Doe received the loss for Belmont, giving up six runs in six innings of work.

Woburn returns to action at 5:45 p.m. tonight at Reading’s Morton Field, while Belmont hosts the Malden Bambinos at 5:45 p.m. tonight at Grant Field.