NEW BRITAIN, CT — The New Britain Bees rallied from a five-run deficit with six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning including a Tyler Pettorini two-run homer and go ahead Billy Minnett two-out three-run homer for a 7-6 Futures League victory over the Vermont Lake Monsters Sunday afternoon at New Britain Stadium.
Vermont led 6-1 when FCBL All-Star reliever Wyatt Cameron (Central Connecticut) walked the leadoff batter in the bottom of the eighth and gave up the two-run homer to fellow All-Star Pettorini. Bees then loaded the bases on a double, walk and walk from All-Star Oliver Pudvar (CVU/Manhattan) to his first batter in relief of Cameron.
Pudvar induced a run-scoring 6-4 forceout and then recorded a strikeout looking before Minnett hit a 1-0 pitch over the leftfield fence to give the Bees the 7-6 lead. New Britain reliever Christan Pedro recorded a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
The Lake Monsters had built a 6-1 lead with four runs in the fourth inning, capped off by a Colin Barczi (Vanderbilt) two-run homer to center for his first home run of the summer, and two runs in the sixth on a Khal Coney (Trinity) two-out, two-run single.
Edward Hart (Duke), making his first start after seven relief appearances, allowed one run on four hits with no walks and nine strikeouts in just four innings. Only run allowed came in fourth on leadoff double and two-out RBI single.
Vermont (31-18) will head into the FCBL All-Star break within a game of both Worcester and Norwich for first-place (depending on Braveheart and Sea Unicorn outcomes late Sunday afternoon). Lake Monsters will be back in action Thursday at Brockton.
MONSTER PERFORMANCES
- Hart 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 9 SO
- Coney 2-for-5, 2 RBI
- Barczi 1-for-2, 2 BB, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
MONSTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Thomas Santana (Columbia) had 3 strikeouts in 1 ⅔ scoreless innings, while Patrick Menk (Virginia) 1.1 scoreless innings of relief
- Vermont now 18-2 when leading after 7 innings, both losses coming to New Britain last 5 days (Monsters lost 4-3 on July 19th on Bees 2-run homer in 8th and solo homer in 10th)
- Also just 4th loss this season when Vermont scored 5 or more runs (26-4)
- 4th time in their 3 FCBL seasons that Lake Monsters have lost after leading by 5 runs
- Despite loss, Vermont ends with a 9-3 record vs. New Britain this season and are 23-5 all-time vs. Bees
Next VT Game: Thursday at Brockton
Next Centennial Games: FCBL Home Run Derby Monday & All-Star Game Tuesday
Next VT Home Game: Saturday vs. Nashua, 5:05 pm (includes finish of 7/14 suspended game)