Vermont Lake Monsters

Vermont Outlasts Westfield 10-9 Wednesday

boxscore

BURLINGTON, VT  — After having a 7-run lead erased by an eight-run Westfield in the  top of the fifth inning, the Vermont Lake Monsters scored single runs in the seventh and eighth innings for a 10-9 Futures League over the Starfires Wednesday night on Delta Dental Diamond at Centennial Field. 

Bryan Richman (Cal Poly Pomona) was hit by a pitch (second of three times on the night) to leadoff the bottom of the eighth, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring the tying run on another wild pitch. Vermont scored the go ahead run in the eighth when Thomas Moss (Trinity TX) led off the inning with a bloop double to right, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a Travis Stroh (CVU/Dayton) sacrifice fly to center. 

The Lake Monsters had built an an 8-1 advantage with two runs in the first, four in the second and three more in the fourth after a 38-minute rain delay. Moss had an RBI single in the first, James Henshon (Tufts) a two-run single in the second and Richman (0-for-0, three  runs, walk, three hit by pitch) a sacrifice fly in the fourth. 

The Starfires sent 11 batters to the plate in the fifth inning, including the first eight reaching before an out was recorded with a single, two walks, single off second base umpire, bases loaded walk, pair of RBI singles and a three-run triple from Jett Vindiola to tie the game. Vindiola then scored the go eighth run of the inning on an RBI groundout. 

MONSTER STARS
* Moss 2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI
* Stroh 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI
* Finn Haines (Rutgers) 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO for win

MONSTER HIGHLIGHTS
* Haines recorded final 5 outs of game and has now retired 17 straight batters over last 3 outings
* Starter Justin Sweeney (Saint Joseph’s) 3 strikeouts and 1 hit batter in 2 hitless innings
* Vermont allowed 8 runs in an inning for the 1st time in its FCBL history and the 1st time overall since June 20, 2019 vs. Hudson Valley (NY-Penn League)
* 4th time Lake Monsters have scored 10+ runs in game and 5th win when opponent scores 8 or more
* Westfield outhit Vermont 8-7, just 2nd Lake Monsters win when being outhit (2-6)
* Vermont (19-10) remain atop  FCBL standings, 2 games up on Worcester and New Britain (both 17-12)

UPCOMING 
Next Game: Thursday vs.Nashua, 6:35pm        
Broadcast: WYCI (TV), FCBLnetwork.com (streaming), 1230am WJOY (radio)