NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters

Unearned Runs Cost Vermont

Published on August 6, 2003 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Vermont Lake Monsters News Release


BURLINGTON, VT --- After the Expos scored four runs on one hit in the fourth inning to take a 6-5 lead, the Tri-City ValleyCats scored three unearned runs on just one hit in the top of the sixth and went on to a 7-6 victory over Vermont in New York-Penn League action Wednesday night at Centennial Field.

The ValleyCats had scored a pair of runs in the first and fourth innings to take a 4-1 lead, but the Expos used the wildness of Tri-City starter Jamie Merchant in the bottom of the fourth to score their four runs.

Merchant, who pitched for both Rice Memorial High School and the University of Vermont, walked each of the first four batters he faced in the fourth inning to force home a run. Robert Ramsey relieved Merchant and hit the first batter he faced to force in another run. After a strikeout and sacrifice fly tied the game 4-4, Vermont got its first hit of the inning when Jason Tuttle singled to left field to score Tim Sweeney with the go ahead run.

But the ValleyCats scored their three unearned runs in the sixth with the help of two throwing errors by catcher Danny Kahr on sacrifice bunt attempts. After a leadoff walk, Kahr's attempt to get the lead runner on a bunt was wide of second. Wade Robinson followed with another bunt that Kahr threw over first base and down the right field line allowing the tying run to score. After a wild pitch gave Tri-City a 6-5 lead, Chad Prosser singled to left for the ValleyCats first hit of the inning and give Tri-City a 7-5 lead.

The Expos cut the lead to 7-6 in the seventh when Vermont got another run, unearned, on a bases loaded walk with one out. But Jonathan Beltre then got Tim Sweeney to flyout to shallow right and struckout Lorvin Louisa to end the inning.

Ramsey (3-1) allowed gave up just one hit with one walk and six strikeouts in three innings of relief for the victory, while Jim Henderson (1-1) allowed the three unearned runs in three innings of work for the loss.

Adam Suess was 3-for-5 with a run, double and RBI, while Mike Walls was 3-for-4 with two runs, a triple and RBI for Tri-City (28-20). Three other ValleyCats had two hits games as Tri-City outhit the Expos 15-2 for the game.

Tuttle's RBI single in the fourth inning extended his hitting streak to 17 games, just one shy of Vermont's team-record 18-game hitting streak by Geoff Blum in 1994. Brad Ditter had the Expos only other hit, a leadoff triple in the second inning.

Vermont (10-39) continues its seven-game homestand with the first of two games with the Stedler Division-leading Oneonta Tigers on Thursday night with Carlos Caceres getting his second start of the season for the Expos.

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New York-Penn League Stories from August 6, 2003


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