NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters

Vermont loses for the first time this season

August 11, 2005 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Vermont Lake Monsters News Release


Batavia 10, Vermont 9

Vermont led 9-3, but Batavia 4 runs in 7th and 3 runs in 9th for win Jeff Taylor allowed 4 runs (3 earned) in 7th and Neohamr Ochoa 3 runs in 9th for loss First 7 batters in Expos order had 2 hits apiece, including Leonard Davis 2-run triple Vermont loses for the 1st time this season when leading after 8 innings Expos (18-32) play 3rd game of 3-game series at Batavia Friday

BATAVIA, NY --- Vermont scored five runs in the sixth inning to take a 9-3 lead over Batavia, but the Muckdogs scored four runs in the seventh and three more runs in the ninth to beat the Expos 10-9 in New York-Penn League action Thursday night at Dwyer Stadium.

The Expos scored two runs in the third for a 2-0 lead and two more runs in the fifth for a 4-1 lead before Batavia scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run homer from Mike Costanzo to cut Vermont's lead to 4-3.

Vermont responded with five runs on five hits in the sixth inning to open up a 9-3 lead. Leonard Davis tripled down the leftfield line to score Jose Contreras and Francisco Plasencia for a 6-3 lead. Later in the inning after Davis scored on a passed ball, John Poppert and Luis Apodaca added RBI singles for the six-run lead.

The Expos had a chance in the seventh to increase the lead after back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, but two strikeouts and a flyour ended the rally. In all, Vermont would leave 14 runners stranded on base for the game.

Batavia started their comeback in the seventh when they scored four runs (three earned) off Expos reliever Jeff Taylor to cut lead to 9-7. Vermont had another chance to increase the lead in the eighth as they loaded the bases with one out, but Contreras forced out Poppert at home on a groundout and Plasencia struckout swinging to end the inning.

Nehomar Ochoa took over on the mound with the two-run lead to start the ninth and was looking for his fourth save. But a one-out hit batter, RBI double and infield single cut the lead to 9-8 and put runners on first and third for the Muckdogs.

Ochoa then got Jeremy Slayden to hit a groundball that the Expos tried to turn into a game-ending double play, but Julian Williams was safe at second and Vermont was only able to get the batter at first as the tying run scored. A wild pitch moved Williams to third and after a walk, Costanzo singled to right field to plate Williams with the winning run.

Each of the first seven batters in the Expos order had two hits in the game, while Vermont starter Ricky Shefka allowed three runs on seven hits over the first six innings. Ochoa (0-2) took the loss as th the Expos lost for the first time this season when leading after eight innings.

Costanzo was 4-for-4 with four RBI for Batavia, which had lost to the Expos on Wednesday night when Vermont scored five runs in the ninth for a 10-6 come-from-behind victory.

Vermont (18-32) will play the third and final game of the three-game series at Batavia on Friday night before heading to Tri-City for a three-game series. The Expos return home to Centennial Field on Tuesday to begin a six-game homestand.

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New York-Penn League Stories from August 11, 2005


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