WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Bravehearts rallied from an early 5-1 deficit with two runs in the sixth and eighth innings before a throwing error in the bottom of the 10th inning gave them a 6-5 victory over the Vermont Lake Monsters Saturday night at Fitton Field.
Vermont used three hits and three walks to score four runs in the top of the second inning for a 4-1 lead. Xander Meissner (Bethany Lutheran) tied the game with an RBI single, Aidan Botti (Cuesta) followed two batters later with a two-single and Bryan Richman (Cal Poly Pomona) made it 4-1 with a sacrifice fly.
Meissner followed a Tyler Harmony (Northeastern) single and Tommy Popoff (Binghamton) double with his second RBI single in the third inning, but that was the extent of the Lake Monsters offense as 22 of the next 26 Vermont batters were retired (only baserunners were three walks and a two-out single in the ninth inning).
The Bravehearts got a two-run single (one earned) in the sixth and tied the game with a pair of RBI singles in the eighth. After Vermont held scoreless in the top of the 10th, Worcester won the game in the bottom of the inning as placed runner Jamison Howland scored from second on a throwing error by pitcher Zander Teator (Babson).
MONSTER PERFORMANCES
* John Delgado (Stevenson) 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
* Meissner 2-for-3, BB, R, 2 RBI
* Popoff 2-for-5, R, 2B
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
* Vermont (32-17) had its season-best 8-game overall win streak and 6-game road win streak snapped
* Lake Monsters now 1-3 in games decided in the 10th inning (0-2 vs. Worcester)
* Vermont now 27-3 when leading after 7 innings and 2nd walkoff loss of season (both at Worcester)
* Lake Monsters now 8-3 in 1-run games, while suffering 10 come-from-behind losses (have 12 wins)
* Delgado continues to lead Futures League with 1.26 ERA, 53 strikeouts and 43 innings pitched
* With single and walk, Richman has now reached base by H or BB in 15 of last 16 games
* Top 4 batters in Vermont order (Sam Cavossa, Richman, McMillan, Nick Frontino), all hitting over .300, were a combined 1-for-16, 3 BB. 1 RBI (rest of lineup 6-for-19, 3 BB, 5 R, 4 RBI)
Next Game: Sunday at Worcester, 4:00pm
Next Home Game:: Tuesday July 29th vs. Norwich, 6:35pm