Malden captures the #1 spot with a 9-2 win

YBL MVP candidate Brad Tardugno (above) went
2-for-3 with a HR, 2 RBI

Brighton, MA - The Malden Bulldogs took care of business as they beat the Brighton Minutemen, 9-2. With the victory, the Bulldog franchise won their third consecutive Yawkey Baseball League Division Title and more importantly earned home field advantage through out the 2010 YBL playoffs.

The Bulldogs scored in the top of the first inning courtesy of Brad Tardugno. The Yawkey Baseball League Player of the Year candidate, belted his sixth home run of 2010 that plated Mike Terrio to give Malden a quick 2-0 lead.

Malden doubled their lead in the fourth when Chris Deane scored Tom Englehardt on a double to deep left-center. Deane would come around to make 4-0 on Luis Lara's single.

The Bulldogs broke it open as they scored a run in the fifth followed by two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

A two-out, two RBI base hit in the fourth inning by Joey O'Neill cut the Minutemen deficit in half, 4-2. That would be all the Brighton could score off of Malden starter Patrick Shanahan. The dominant left-hander struck out seven and walked zero in his 3.2 innings of work. Rob Mondello relieved Shanahan and picked up his third win as he threw 2.1 hit-less innings. Jon Shepard pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to finish the game.

Malden finishes the 2010 regular season with a 26-7-0 record. As the overall number one seed, the Bulldogs will host the eighth seeded Brighton Black Sox on Thursday (8/12) night. Game time is set for 8 pm at Maplewood Park in Malden, MA.