NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters

Casto Gives Expos Win in Extra Innings

Published on August 16, 2003 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Vermont Lake Monsters News Release


BATAVIA, NY --- The Expos went to extra innings for the first time in 2003 and Kory Casto used the extra frames to snap a 1-for-17 slump with an RBI single in the top of the 13th inning to give Vermont a 3-2 victory over the Batavia Muckdogs in New York-Penn League action Saturday afternoon at Dwyer Stadium.

Larry Wayne York had led off the 13th with a single before moved to second on a one-out groundout before heading to third on a wild pitch. Casto, who was 0-for-5 for the day and 4-for-41 over his last 11 games, then punched a 1-2 pitch from Batavia closer Chris Rupert the other way down the leftfield line to score York with the eventual game-winning run.

The Expos were able to get into extra innings for the first time when leftfielder Franklyn Jimenez threw out Tim Moss at the plate to end the ninth inning. Moss was at second base when Javon Moran singled throught the leftside with two outs, but Jimenez nailed Moss at the plate to send the game to the 10th.

Vermont had a great chance to score in the 11th when Josh Whitesell led off the inning with a triple off Ruppert. But the left-hander then struckout Casto and Salomon Manriquez before Michael Bourn made a diving catch on a Brad Ditter liner into leftcenter to squash the Expos chance to take the lead.

The Expos got great pitching all day from starter Carlos Caceres and relievers Jeremy Plexico and Chris Goodman. Caceres, making his third start of the year, allowed two runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts in four innings as Batavia took a 2-0 lead with single rund in the first and third innings.

But Vermont tied the game with two runs in the top of the fifth. Brad Ditter walked to leadoff the fifth and moved to second on a bad pickoff attempt before Lorvin Louisa singled to center to score Ditter.

After a sacrifice bunt, Jason Tuttle got the second of his three hits in the game to score Louisa from second for a 2-2 tie.

The game then became a battle of the bullpens. Plexico allowed a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth, but quickly got a double play and would retire the rest of the batters he faced with three strikeouts in four innings of work. Batavia reliever Zach Minor came on in the top of the sixth and tossed five shutout innings with the only two hits he allowed coming in the top of the 10th inning.

Goodman, Vermont's third pitcher of the day and in just his third game with the Expos, came on in the ninth and pitched the final five innings to pick up his first win of the season. Goodman got out of the ninth inning with Jimenez's throwout of Moss at home, then retired the next eight Muckdogs in order until a two-out double in the 12th. He left the winning run on third in the 12th with a popout, then closed out the game with a flyout to left in the 13th after allowing another two-out double.

While it was Vermont's first extra-inning game of the season, it was also just the second time this season that the Expos have won when the opponent scores first (2-30) and when the opponent has more hits (2-33), while just the second win in their final at bat.

Vermont (14-44), after going just 2-22 in its first 24 road games, is now 2-2 on the seven-game roadtrip and will look to win the series with the Muckdogs on Sunday evening in the final of a three-game series with Batavia. Nehomar Ochoa (1-0) will get his second start of the year for the Expos, who will then head off to Oneonta to begin a two-game series on Monday.

Check out the Vermont Lake Monsters Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



New York-Penn League Stories from August 16, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central