Lakeland Pounds Dodgers

Published on May 24, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Vero Beach Devil Rays News Release


(Lakeland, FL) - Victor Mendez hit a grand slam and drove in six runs to lead the Lakeland Tigers over the Vero Beach Dodgers 11-2 Wednesday night at Joker Marchant Stadium. Garth McKinney added a 2-run homer as the Tigers won for the 12th time in the last 15 games. The series continues Thursday night at 7:00 PM with Chris Malone on the mound for the Dodgers.

Lakeland took revenge on starter Alberto Bastardo, who held the Tigers to one hit in seven innings at Holman Stadium earlier in the season. Bastardo kept the Tigers off the board the first two innings Wednesday, but fell apart in the 3rd.

Jeff Frazier singled with one out and stole second. After a wild pitch McKinney launched his towering home run to right-center. Jeff Larish and Wilkin Ramirez followed wtih back-to-back singles. Following a strikeout - one of five in 2 2/3 innings for Bastardo - Brent Dlugach walked to load the bases. Mendez then lined a grand slam to make it 6-0 and knock Bastardo out of the game.

It did not get much better in the 4th. Frazier drew a one-out walk from Ramon Troncoso. McKinney and Larish followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. A sacrifice fly brought in one run and Jim Essian walked to re-load the bases. Dlugach doubled to score two more and Mendez added a 2-RBI single to put the Tigers ahead 11-0.

Lakeland starter Dallas Trahern (3-6) stayed in conrol despite the long innings. He went 7 innings, allowing only three singles and one walk. He fanned five. The Dodgers had beaten Trahern in Vero Beach for their only win of a 4-game series with the Tigers at home.

It took until the 8th for the Dodgers to get on the board. Travis Denker led off the inning with a walk from reliever Eddie Bonine. David Nicholson singled and after a double play, Ryan Russ doubled in Denker for the Dodgers first run. Russ would score on a bloop single by Jamie Hoffman.

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Florida State League Stories from May 24, 2006


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