Courtesy Vermont Lake Monsters
NORWICH, CT — The Vermont Lake Monsters snapped both a seven-game losing streak and an offensive slump as they scored 14 runs, including a seven times in top of the sixth inning, and collected 17 base hits before holding on for a 14-12 New York-Penn League victory over the Connecticut Tigers Saturday evening at Dodd Stadium.
Vermont entered the game having scored just six total runs on 34 hits during its seven-game losing streak, but ended Saturday having scored the most runs in a road game for the Lake Monsters in two years and 17 hits in a road game for first time since July 23, 2014 at Lowell.
Saturday’s game featured four lead changes over the first four innings and five over first 5 1/2 innings. Connecticut scored three runs on four hits in bottom of first inning before the Vermont offense, with just the six runs in its previous 68 innings, came to life in the second with four runs including a Michael Woodworth two-out, two-run single and Kevin Richards two-run double.
The Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of third to take a 5-4 lead, but Lake Monsters quickly retook the lead in top of fourth, tying the game on Woodworth RBI double and taking lead on a Richards sacrifice fly. But Connecticut scored four times bottom fourth on Ryan Kriedler RBI double and Hector Martinez three-run homer for 9-6 Tigers advantage.
Vermont responded with the seven-run sixth inning, which included a Nick Osborne two-run single to tie score and Shane Selman sac fly for 10-9 lead. Lawrence Butler, who entered the game in an 0-for-17 slump, then collected his fourth hit of the day with a three-run homer to center for a four-run lead.
Tigers cut deficit in half with two runs in bottom of the eighth inning, but Richards got his fourth RBI of the night in the ninth with his second double. Connecticut the run back in the ninth and had the tying runs on second-and-third before Jorge Martinez induced a groundout to end the game for his first save of season.
The 14-12 score marked just 12th time in Vermont history that both teams scored 10 or more runs in same game and the 26 runs are the fifth-most combined runs ever in a Lake Monsters game. The 17 hits also raised Lake Monsters team batting average from .199 to .211 overall.
Butler finished 4-for-5 with three runs, his second homer and three RBI, while Woodworth 4-for-6 with two runs, a double and three RBI. Richards was 3-for-5 with a run, two doubles and four RBI. Staring pitcher Osvaldo Berrios, who was making his Vermont debut after being promoted from Arizona League, was charged with six runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings
Carlos Sanchez (1-0) allowed the three-run homer to Martinez, but earned the victory for Vermont with 2 2/3 innings of relief. Ryan Kreidler went 4-for-6 with three runs, a double, triple and an RBI, while Martinez finished 2-for-5 with his first homer and five RBI for Connecticut (9-12).
Vermont (9-13) returns to historic Centennial Field to begin a three-game homestand against the Hudson Valley Renegades starting at 5:05 pm Sunday with the first 1,000 fans receiving a free Lake Monsters tote bag.