Monsters Drop HR Derby In 6-6 Tie Monday
boxscore
BURLINGTON, VT — The Vermont Lake Monsters rallied from a 5-1 deficit to send the game to extra innings tied 5-5, re-tied the game 6-6 with a run in the bottom of the 10th before the Lowell Spinners got credit for a Futures League win with a 4-2 victory in the Home Run Derby Monday night on Delta Dental Diamond at Centennial Field.
By Home Run Derby rules, Vermont (38-15-1) gets credit for a tie in the game and clinched the top-seed in the FCBL playoffs as the regular-season champion in the bottom of the 10th inning when Patrick Shrake (Colby) singled home placed runner Travis Stroh (CVU/Dayton) from third base with a one-out single that secured the Lake Monsters at least a tie in the game.Â
Lowell jumped out to a 5-1 lead with a run in the second and fourth innings around a three-run third. Vermont got two runs back in the bottom of the fourth with one run scoring on a throwing error and the second on a Tommy Popoff (Binghamton) RBI groundout.
The Lake Monsters tied the game 5-5 in the eighth on a Brenden Walsh (Endicott) two-out bases loaded walk and by a run scoring on a Jake Lopez (UIndianapolis) RBI fielder’s choice.Â
MONSTER STARS
* Shrake 2-for-5, R, RBI
* Ryan Ruggiero (Bucknell) 1-for-3, 2 BB, R
MONSTER HIGHLIGHTS
* 1st HR Derby in the Futures League this year and just the 2nd at Centennial in 6 FCBL seasons
* Vermont now 3-2 overall in HR Derbies, including 1-1 at Centennial (won derby July 18, 2021)
* 1st time Lake Monsters credited with a tie (won only HR Derby in 2025 on July 3rd at Westfield)
* Liam Barr (St. Anselm) allowed 1 unearned run on 3 hits and 1 walk in 1 IP in Vermont debut
* James Benestad (Endicott) also made Monsters debut, striking out in only AB as defensive replacement
* Vermont had just 5 hits (9 walks), but finished 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position
UPCOMINGÂ
Next Game: Tuesday vs. Lowell, 6:35pmÂ
Promotion: Summer of Love Night
Next Home Game: WYCI (TV), FCBLnetwork.com (streaming), WJOY 1230am (radio)Â