Baseball: Five Run 8th Carries Monsters Past Renegades

Posted on , updated on by George Commo

Courtesy Vermont Lake Monsters

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY — A Logan Davidson two-run single and Jose Rivas two-run triple highlighted a five-run top of the eighth inning for Vermont as the Lake Monsters rallied for a 7-3 New York-Penn League victory Wednesday afternoon at Dutchess Stadium.

Down a run to start the eighth, Jordan Diaz got the rally started with a one-out single and Kyle McCann followed with a walk. After a wild pitch gave Vermont two runners in scoring position, Davidson grounded a 3-2 pitch into center to collect his first two RBI of the season and gave the Lake Monsters a 4-3 lead.

Marty Bechina followed with Vermont’s fourth double of the day before Rivas lined a triple over centerfielder Garrett Hoitt for a 6-3 advantage. Rivas then scored the fifth run of the inning on a passed ball by catcher Jordyn Muffley.

Hudson Valley got two runners into scoring position in the bottom of the eighth, but Jose Mora came out of the bullpen to get a shallow flyout to left and a groundout to second to keep the Renegades off the board. Mora allowed a hit and walk to start bottom ninth, but recorded fourth save with back-to-back strikeouts and groundout to end game.

Shane Selman was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two doubles, while Bechina 2-for-4 with a run and double as the Lake Monsters collected five of their 10 hits over the last two innings. It was Vermont’s fourth double-figure hit game of the season and first since July 10th. Hoitt and Nick Sogard both had two hits for Hudson Valley (21-16)

Lake Monsters starter Richard Morban allowed two runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings, while Carlos Sanchez (2-0) one unearned run over 2 1/2 innings to earn the win for Vermont (16-23). Christopher Gau (1-4) was charged with four of the five runs in the eighth inning to take the loss.

The teams have split the first two of the three-game series, which will conclude 7:05pm on Thursday. The Lake Monsters then return to Centennial Field to open a three-game homestand against the Brooklyn Cyclones on Friday night.