NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters

Lowell 8, Vermont 1

September 1, 2005 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Vermont Lake Monsters News Release


LOWELL, MA --- September did not start any better than August ended for the Vermont Expos as they were struck down and struck out with an 8-1 loss to the Lowell Spinners in New York-Penn League action Thursday night at LeLacheur Park.

Lowell starter Clay Buchholz struckout eight of the 10 Vermont batters that he faced over the first three innings. Buchholz struckout the side in the first, struckout two in the second and also struckout the first two batters of the third. Newcomer Jean Alvarez finally gave the Expos a baserunner in the third, but Buchholz struckout Mike Daniel to end the third.

Buchholz, who has not pitched more than three innings in any of his 14 starts this season, left after three innings on Thursday with a 5-0 lead. That's because the Spinners scored three runs in the first and two more runs in the third off Vermont starter Chris Lugo.

Jacoby Ellsbury, who went 4-for-5 with two runs and two extra base hits, led off the Spinner first with a triple as Lowell sent eight batters to the plate and had four hits to take a 3-0 lead. The Spinners added two runs in the third on a RBI double from Yahmed Yema, who was 3-for-5 with two RBI, and RBI single from Dustin Kelly.

Lowell added three more runs in the fourth off Lugo, including a two-run single from Dominic Ramos and an RBI single for Yema for an 8-1 lead.

Vermont had gotten its only run of the game in the top of the fourth as Jonathan Castro led off the inning with a bunt single and went to second on a throwing error. After a wild pitch moved Castro to third, Francisco Plasencia singled to right to score Castro. It was Plasencia's team-high 44th RBI of the season and team-record 25th RBI in August/September.

Four Lowell pitchers combined on a five-hitter and struckout 12 Vermont batters. Chris Jones (3-1) relieved Buchholz to begin the fourth and allowed one run on two hits over three innings for the victory. Ramos, Kelly and Jed Lowrie each had two hits for the Spinners, who had 16 hits in the game.

Lugo (1-1) gave up eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits over 3.1 innings to take the loss. Aaron Jackson, making just his second relief appearance of the season, tossed 4.2 scoreless innings with five hits and four strikeouts.

The loss was the eighth straight overall and dropped Vermont to 0-7 so far on the nine-game roadtrip. The Expos have lost 12 straight road games, one shy of the team-record 13 set in June/July of 2003.

Vermont (21-48) will try to keep from tying that team record on Friday night when they play game four of the five-game series at Lowell. The Expos return to Centennial Field on Sunday for their final three home games of the season.

Check out the Vermont Lake Monsters Statistics



New York-Penn League Stories from September 1, 2005


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