NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters

Long Struggles Early in Expos Loss

August 15, 2003 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Vermont Lake Monsters News Release


BATAVIA, NY --- Nick Long allowed six or more runs in an inning for the third time this season as the Batavia Muckdogs used a six-run third inning to defeat the Vermont Expos 12-1 in New York-Penn League action Friday Night at Dwyer Field.

Long (3-7), who allowed 9 runs in the fourth inning at Lowell on June 24th and six runs runs in the third inning at Oneonta on July 4th, did not retire any of the six batters he faced in the third inning on Friday night.

Batavia already led 2-0 after scoring two runs on four hits in the first inning off Long when a single, fielder's choice and walk loaded the bases to start the third. Long then hit Kiel Fisher on an 0-2 pitch to force in a run and then walked Joe Brunink for a 4-0 Muckdog lead. Long, who allowed eight runs on eight hits over two-plus innings, was then chased from the game after giving up a two-run double to Jack Headley.

Warmar Gomez took over for Long and allowed a sacrifice fly and RBI single for an 8-0 Batavia lead. But after the RBI single, Gomez and three other Vermont relievers combined to retire 14 of the next 16 batters, including a 1-2-3 fifth inning for Brattleboro, Vermont native Jeff Dixon.

Jim Henderson pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, but walked the first two batters of the eighth and Dan Generelli came on to walk another to load the bases. After a sacrifice fly, Bryan Hansen tripled home two more runs and then scored himself on Batavia's third sacrifice fly of the game for a 12-1 lead.

The Expos offense continued its struggles of late. After getting 10 hits in two of three games August 4th and 5th, Vermont has not had more than nine hits in each of the last nine games. That includes just eight hits on Friday and the Expos only run of the game was an unearned run in the seventh inning.

Kory Casto singled to open the seventh and moved to second on a walk. After a strikeout, Bret Pignatiello singled to left and Casto, who had stopped at third, scored as leftfielder Headley bobbled the ball.

Vermont (13-44), now 1-2 on the seven-game roadtrip and 3-24 on the road overall, play the second game of the three-game series at Batavia (25-33) on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.

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