NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters

Ironbirds storm back to tip Expos

Published on August 8, 2004 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Vermont Lake Monsters News Release


ABERDEEN, MD --- The Vermont Expos led 9-5 in the ninth, but the Aberdeen Ironbirds scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game and then scored the winning run in the 11th for a 10-9 New York-Penn League victory Saturday night at Ripken Stadium.

The Expos were 16-0 when leading after eight ininngs this season and even added an insurance run in the top of the ninth for a 9-5 lead. But a walk and three straight hits off reliever Richard Campbell cut the lead to 9-7 and brought closer Gus Hlebovy in with runners on the corners.

Hlebovy got Morgan Clendenin to popout for the second out, but Artuaro Rivas singled to second base to score one run and when Brad Ditter's throw got past third base, CJ Smith was able to score the tying run.

The Expos had a scoring chance in the 10th when Ditter singled to center with two outs, but Steve Mortimer was thrown out trying to go from first to third base to end the inning. The Ironbirds won the game in the 11th off Hlebovy with a one-out walk, stolen base and two-out single to center from Rivas to score Smith with the winning run.

The Expos led 5-0 early after getting a solo homer from Marvin Lowrance in the first, three bases loaded walks in the second and a solo homer from Mortimer in the third inning. Aberdeen rallied with two runs in the third and two unearned runs in the fifth off Vermont starter Jim Henderson.

Vermont scored three runs in the seventh, including RBI singles from Duron Legrande and Lowrance, before Aberdeen got a run in the seventh and the Expos a run in the ninth on a Doug Vroman RBI single for the 9-5 lead.

Lowrance was 3-for-4 with three RBI and his second home run of the year, while Ditter was 3-for-5 with two runs and John Poppert 2-for-6 with two doubles. Vroman and Jose Contreas each had two hits, while Mortimer's third inning solo homer was his sixth of the season.

Vermont had 15 hits in the game, the most hits for the Expos in a road game since August 25, 2001 when they had 15 at Lowell. But it was also the fifth time in the last 15 games that Vermont pitchers have allowed double-figure runs.

Levi Robinson was 3-for-5 with three runs, while CJ Smith had two runs and three RBI for Aberdeen (24-25). David Haehnel allowed one hit, one walk and struckout three in two innings of relief for the victory.

The two teams play game two of the three-game series at Aberdeen on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m.

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New York-Penn League Stories from August 8, 2004


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