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NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters

Crosscutters build lead, hold it

August 5, 2004 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Vermont Lake Monsters News Release


Burlington, VT- Mike Hofius hit two home runs as the Williamsport Crosscutters built a 7-0 lead and then held on for an 8-5 victory over the Vermont Expos in New York-Penn League action Thursday night at Centennial Field.

Hofius hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to give the Crosscutters the 7-0 lead and then, after the Expos had scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh, hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to give Williamsport a three-run lead.

The Crosscutters got an unearned run in the third inning and added two runs on three hits in the third inning, including an RBI single from Jermel Lomack, for a 3-0 lead. Williamsport added two more runs in the sixth on an RBI triple from Sean Smith and a sacrifice fly.

The 7-0 lead seemed safe as Williamsport starter Blair Johnson (3-1) cruised over the first six innings, allowing just two hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. After giving up singles to Vermont's first two batters of the game, the only other Expos baserunners until the seventh inning reached on two-out errors in the fifth and sixth innings.

But Vermont was finally able to reach Johnson in the seventh as the Expos used four hits, two walks and three errors to score five runs (just two earned) to cut the Crosscutter lead to 7-5. Steve Mortimer had an RBI double for the first run, while Brad Ditter and Ofilio Castro added RBI singles later in the inning.

The Expos got two runners on base with two-out walks in the eighth inning, but Dustin Craig came on to strikeout pinch hitter Luke Montz to end the inning and Hofius hit his fourth home run of the season in the ninth for the 8-5 lead.

Justin Elliott was 2-for-4 with two runs and Wanell Macia also had two hits for Williamsport (18-26), while Craig picked up his fifth save of the season with the Montz strikeout in the eighth and a perfect ninth ining.

Clyde Jenkins (0-1) gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits in four innings of relief to pick up the loss in his Vermont debut. Castro was 2-for-5 with an RBI for the Expos (21-24), who were held to six hits in the game.

Vermont and Williamsport, both of whom committed five errors in Thursday's game, will play the final game of the three-game series at Centennial Field on Friday night beginning at 7:05 p.m. The Expos will also celebrate Champ's Birthday with a Hawaiian Beach Bash. Lots of Champ's mascot friends will be in attendance and there will be Pepsi Bottle Jerseys for the first 1,000 fans.

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New York-Penn League Stories from August 5, 2004


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