NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters

Lake Monsters Drop Third Straight Game In Series Opener

Published on June 25, 2009 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Vermont Lake Monsters News Release


BURLINGTON, VT --- Back-to-back RBI triples from Alexis Espinoza and Rawley Bishop keyed a three-run third inning as the Oneonta Tigers raced out to a four-run lead and held on to beat the Vermont Lake Monsters 5-2 in New York-Penn League action at historic Centennial Field on Thursday night.

The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning off Vermont starter Graham Hicks (0-1) on a Espinoza RBI groundout and a John Murrian RBI single. The Lake Monsters got a run back in the second on a single, two-out walk, infield single and a bases loaded walk to Dani Arias.

Hicks walked Wade Gaynor with one-out in the third inning before giving up the back-to-back RBI triples for a 4-1 Oneonta advantage. Bishop scored after his triple on a wild pitch from Hicks, who finished the night allowing five runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

Johan Figuereo took over for Hicks with two outs in the third inning and allowed one hit with four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Mitchell Clegg gave up three hits over the final three innings for Vermont as the two Lake Monster relievers combined for 6 1/3 shutout innings.

Vermont got a run closer in the eighth as Justin Bloxom led off with a double, just the fourth hit of the night for the Lake Monsters and the first since the third inning. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Bloxom scored as shortstop Jim Gulliver was unable to handle a grounder from Ronnie LaBrie for the Tigers first error of the season.

Oneonta's second error came one batter later giving the Lake Monsters a pair of baserunners with no outs, but Tiger reliever Kenny Faulk came on to get two flyballs and a strikeout to end the Vermont threat.

Tigers starter Jeff Gerbe gave up a run on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts before leaving the game after 2 2/3 innings. Michael Torreabla (1-0) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts to earn the save, while Matt Mansilla had two doubles for Oneonta (4-1).

Bloxom was 2-for-2 with both runs scored for Vermont (2-5), which has now dropped three straight games to fall three games under the .500 mark.

The Lake Monsters will look to get back in the win column on Friday night as Juan Jaime is scheduled to get the start as Vermont hosts Oneonta in the second game of a three-game series beginning at 7:05 p.m.

Check out the Vermont Lake Monsters Statistics

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New York-Penn League Stories from June 25, 2009


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