5-Game Win Streak Snapped In 8-5 Loss
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WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Bravehearts snapped a 3-3 tie with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and went on to snap the Lake Monsters five-game winning streak with an 8-5 Futures League victory over Vermont on Friday night at Fitton Field.
Vermont took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Tommy Popoff (Binghamton) followed back-to-back one-out hit batters with a two-out, two-run double to center field. Worcester retook the lead in the fifth with the help of four walks, sac fly and RBI single. Lake Monsters tied the game in sixth on an RBI infield single from Ryan Ruggiero (Bucknell) in his Vermont debut.
The Bravehearts loaded the bases with one out in the sixth before taking a 4-3 edge on a sacrifice fly, then added three straight RBI base hits for a 7-3 advantage. After a Worcester home run in seventh for five-run lead, Vermont scored twice in the ninth on Patrick Shrake (Colby) RBI infield single to score Popoff, who had reached on his second double of game, and a Travis Stroh (CVU/Dayton) RBI single.
MONSTER STARS
* Popoff 2-for-4, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI
* Shrake 2-for-3, BB, R, RBI
* Justin Sweeney (Saint Joseph’s) 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
MONSTER HIGHLIGHTS
* While 5-game win streak snapped, Vermont has still won 6 of last 8 and are 17-3 in July
* 35-13 record is the Lake Monsters best FCBL record after 48 games (34-14 in 2022)
* Top 3 Vermont batters Zach Geertsma (.349), Hunter Strohm (.347) and Bryan Richman (.317) DNP
* Sweeney hit 1st 2 batters of game on 2 pitches, then allowed infield single to load bases before retiring 11 of last 14 batters (2 BB, HBP) over his 4 IP
* Will Torres (AIC) and Max Williams (Tufts) both went 0.2 IP in Vermont debuts, combining to allow 5 runs on 4 hits, 5 walks and 2 strikeouts
* Both pitching staffs finished with 10 strikeouts, but Vermont led 8-2 in walks and 3-2 in hit batters
* Lake Monsters outhit Worcester 8-7, marking just 2nd loss when outhitting opponent (now 28-2)
* Vermont also now 18-3 when errorless and 28-6 when scoring 5+ runs (13-12 when opponents 5+)
* After roadtrip finale Saturday, Lake Monsters will play 10 of final 11 regular-season games at Centennial starting on Monday
UPCOMING
Next Game: Saturday at Worcester, 6:30pm (FCBLnetwork.com)
Next Home Game: Monday vs. Westfield, 6:35pm (Hot Dog Hysteria)