Vermont Lake Monsters Opening Night!

[Nathan]

I could see the Nats affiliate trying to jump to a nearby indy league stadium like York, PA or So. MD., which I would like in some ways, but feel pretty sad about in several other ways.

I could get into York.

[RobRyan]

Russel Moldenhauer: Professional Batsman.  6th HR, 2 RIBs, Auburn assists with 5 Es, 7-4 win for the Monsters, and back in 1st place by .5

http://fb.ilike.com/artist/Rob+Ryan/track/Lake+Monsters+beat+Auburn+7-4+on+August+6th

[RobRyan]

Back to work tonight, as the Lake Monsters return home, clinging to a 1 game lead in the Stedler Division over the Connecticut Tigers, and just 2.5 over 3rd place Tri-City Valley Cats.

Lowell is in town tonight, with a 7:05 first pitch.  David Frietas and Blake Kelso both started for the National League All Stars in the NYPL game, and both went 0-2.  Neil Holland pitched a scorless 7th inning (when his team was leading 3-1), and hit two batters, and struck out 2.

The stretch run will be tough, with Brooklyn coming to town for a 3 game set this weekend and only 8 home games and 12 road games to finish the season (Including the final 10 on the road, 3 against league leader Brooklyn, and a double header in Staten Island in the final series.)

[Lintyfresh85]

Rob, were you surprised Labrie didn't make the All-Star game? Seemed like he's been putting up a really nice season up to this point.*


* - Shameless Lynchburg College plea

[RobRyan]

Ronnie was a candidate for sure. I'm not 'surprised' he didn't make it per se... had he started out faster, he might have had a better chance.  He's quietly gone about his business, unlike Freitas who has noisily went about his buisness.  And Kelso has been above .300 all season.

I think Ronnie is going to be a great candidate for the Racine Award, and the Team MVP (you can check out details at the Monsters website), although Freitas will be hard to overcome.

[RobRyan]

Highlights for tonight.  Roller coaster, and we didn't end up under the wheels for once!

[hammondsnats]

Thanks rob.  Always love your insight.  Why can't vermont be closer?!?!  I'd be going to a lot of games.

[Lintyfresh85]

Sounds like a great crowd and a really exciting game!

[RobRyan]

Wednesday we had 3344 (and no big promotion...), last night it was a rowdy 2258.

We're averaging 2394.  We've got good fans.

[Lintyfresh85]

Hope the team sticks around then!

[RobRyan]

They've been selling 2011 season tickets.... so... that's a good sign! LOL

Tonight was a darn good game.  And in good news it's not over.  Vermont jumped out to a 1-0 lead on 2 walks a wild pitch and a sac fly.  Then a 3-run homer by Brooklyn put them down 3-1.  They'd get a run to get to 3-2.  Then a solo home run to make it 4-2 Brooklyn, followed by another run in the same inning for 5-2.

Lake Monsters would scratch back to 5-4 on a 2 run triple by Jason Martison in the 6th (after he smoked one about 12 feet foul down the right field line for what would have been a  home run in any park, he fouled off 4 more pitches then took an outside fastball and painted into the corner).

In the 7th, Chad Mozingo would work a full count, and lace a single to center on the 13th pitch of an at-bad to lead off.  A sac bunt, a walk, a single by Freitas tied it up.  A Ronnie Labrie sac-fly RBI gave the Monsters the 6-5 lead!  Yay!

BUT.... a 2 run homer off of Colin Bates in the top of the 8th, gave Brooklyn back a 7-6 lead (only the 13th time in team history the opposition has homered thrice in a game, and just the 4th time at Centennial).

Bottom of the 8th, Wade Moore worked a walk, swiped 2nd (15th stolen base in 17 tries), got to 3rd on a Jason Martinson bloop single into the Bermuda Triangle of center/short/2nd, and scored to tie it at 7-7 on a wild pitch.

Into EXTRAS!  Brooklyn got a lead off walk in the 12th.  2 Dustin Crane wild pitches and a sac fly later they took a 8-7 lead.

Vermont got a leadoff walk from Moore, a FC and a walk to get the tying run to 2nd and the winning run at 1st, when the rains came teeming down and halted play.  We're frozen in the 12th.

Now, here's the tricky part: The forecast for tomorrow is NOT GOOD.  There's a very good chance this suspended came will continue in Brooklyn, along with game 3 of the set being made up on the road.  This would mean, Vermont (still with a lead in the Stedler division), will finish with 3 games in Auburn, 4+suspended game in Brooklyn, and 4 in 3 days in Staten Island to finish the season (VT and SIY were PPD'd in Vermont, and being made up in SI last set of the year.)