NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters

Burgess leads Monsters to win

Published on September 6, 2007 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Vermont Lake Monsters News Release


FISHKILL, NY --- Michael Burgess went 4-for-5 with a solo homer, RBI triple and capped off a five-run top of the ninth inning with a three-run homer as the Vermont Lake Monsters outscored the Hudson Valley Renegades 12-7 in New York-Penn League action Thursday night at Dutchess Stadium.

With the game tied 7-7 in the ninth, Boomer Whiting led off with a walk, moved to second on a sac bunt and then stole third base for his 35th steal of the season. The Renegades walked Garrett Bass intentionally and, after Bass was able to steal second safely after being picked off, also walked Aaron Seuss intentionally to load the bases.

Sean Rooney then drilled a two-run double to rightcenter to give the Lake Monsters a 9-7 lead and Burgess followed with the three-run homer to rightfield to cap Vermont's second five-run inning of the night.

The Lake Monsters first five-run inning had come in the third inning when Vermont rallied from a 3-1 deficit. After an error, walk and single loaded the bases, Bass had a two-run single and Seuss a two-run double for a 5-3 lead. Burgess, who had hit his solo homer for Vermont's first run in the second inning, then drilled an RBI triple off the leftcenter field fence for a three-run Lake Monsters lead.

Hudson Valley got the lead back in the fourth as the Renegades scored four times off Vermont reliever Ryan Buchter, including a three-run homer from Mike McCormick for a 7-6 lead. The Lake Monsters were able to tie the game 7-7 in the sixth as Stephen Englund singled with two out, moved to second on a walk and scored on an RBI single from Jean Alvarez.

Despite allowing seven runs on nine hits, four Vermont pitchers combined for a season-high 16 strikeouts against a Hudson Valley team that had struckout the second fewest times in the New York-Penn League. Starter Jack McGeary had two in his 1.2 innings, Buchter four in 2.1 innings, Randy Matias four in his three scoreless innings and Martin Beno three walks with six strikeouts in his two innings for the win.

The two home runs for Burgess marked the first two homer game for a Vermont batter since Francisco Plasencia hit a pair in the final game of the 2005 season on September 8th at Tri-City. Plasencia's seven RBI that night was also the last time that a Vermont player had five or more RBI in a game until Burgess' five-RBI game on Thursday.

No other Lake Monster had more than one hit in the game besides Burgess with four, the fourth time this season a Vermont player has had four hits in a game. Whiting, Bass, Seuss and Burgess all scored two runs, while Reid Fronk went 3-for-5 with one run and two RBI for Hudson Valley (34-41).

The Lake Monsters play their final game of the 2007 season at Hudson Valley on Friday night with 2007 first-round selection Josh Smoker getting the start for Vermont (37-37), which needs a win to finish with its first winning season since 2000 and for just the second time in the last 11 years.

NOTES: The 12-7 win was only the fifth time that Vermont has won this season when the opponent scores five or more runs (5-25) ... It was also just the fifth win for the Lake Monsters in their final at bat this season ... Starter Jack McGeary (making his first professional start) gave up an unearned run in the 1st inning, then two runs in the second after allowing two straight two-out walks and a two-run double that ended his night ... Lake Monsters are 17-20 on the road with one game remaining and need win for most road wins in a season since 19 road victories in 2000 (17 in 2004).

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New York-Penn League Stories from September 6, 2007


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