NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters

Game-Ending Two-Run Hit Costs Monsters

Published on July 16, 2009 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Vermont Lake Monsters News Release


JAMESTOWN, NY --- Robert Taylor hit a game-ending two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Jamestown Jammers a 6-5 victory over the Vermont Lake Monsters in New York-Penn League action Thursday night at Diethrick Park.

Chase Austin reached on a throwing error by shortstop Sean Nicol to open the bottom of the ninth and Taylor followed with his second home run of the season on the first pitch he saw from Steven Stewart to give the Jammers their second straight win over the Lake Monsters.

Vermont had rallied from a 4-2 deficit with two runs in the fifth and one in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead. The Lake Monsters had tied the game at four in the fifth on a J.P Ramirez RBI single, the only hit Vermont had during the game in 13 at bats with a runner in scoring positon.

The Lake Monsters scored twice in the first inning on a groundout and sacrifice fly, then scored their first run of the fifth inning on another RBI groundout. Vermont took a 5-4 lead in the seventh on an infield single, two walks and a run-scoring wild pitch, but were unable to add to the lead as Sandy Leon and J.J. Sferra struckout with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Graham Hicks gave up three hits over his first three scoreless innings, but the Vermont starting pitcher struggled in the fourth as he allowed a hit to each of the first five Jamestown batters. Three straight singles to open the inning gave the Jammers their first run, then a Rand Smith RBI double tied the game. Jamestown got its final two runs of the inning on a sacrifice fly and RBI groundout.

Nicol and Jeff Kobernus each had two hits and two runs scored for the Lake Monsters, while Smith and Dustin Dickerson both had two hits, a run and an RBI for the Jammers. AJ Ramos (1-0) walked one and struckout two in the ninth inning to pick up the win for Jamestown (11-16).

Stewart (1-1), who had come into the game in the eighth inning to get Vermont out of a runners on second and third with one-out jam, took the loss as he allowed two runs (one earned) for his first runs allowed in seven appearances. It was also the first game-ending home run allowed by Vermont since June 20th when Johan Figuereo gave up a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-2 loss at Lowell.

Vermont (13-13) heads to Maryland where they open a three-game series at Aberdeen on Friday night. After the series with the Ironbirds concludes on Sunday, the Lake Monsters will return home to open a three-game homestand with the Brooklyn Cyclones on Monday night.

Check out the Vermont Lake Monsters Statistics

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New York-Penn League Stories from July 16, 2009


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