All apologies to those dedicated Monsters fans who have relied on this blog for their daily dose of Monsters news. As a result of the end of the summer semester ending, and because of ongoing problems with the server, the recaps and box scores featured here will be discontinued. An attempt will be made at adding an audio interview with Lake Monsters General Manager C.J. Knudsen and the article it produced - both very captivating pieces that you won't want to miss - so please check back soon for these final updates. Despite the lack of responses on this weblog, I have enjoyed making this a one-way conduit of information and I will take your lack of  responses as an indication that I have performed perfect work an have not made any mistakes whatsoever. Though we never will meet face to face, you readers - you are the stars! You will always be in my heart.

Andrew J. Westley

Vermont Lake Monsters blog creator, writer, editor, researcher, R&D manager, secretary, quality control administrator, water re-filler, and French wine aficionado.

    Vermont again relinquished a large lead - a disturbing, recurring trend for the 2006 Lake Monsters - but were able to score late in the game and beat Long Island in the first of a three game series. The 7-6 victory was Vermont's third straight win, all of which have come by one run. The Lake Monsters have doubled their count in one-run wins in the streak, and are now an even 6-6 in that category.
    The key to building the early lead was one of the more stellar pitching performances that the Lake Monsters have seen all year - a 6.2 inning, three run outing by starter Cory Van Allen. Van Allen left after giving up two runs in the seventh, but his performance was still good enough to meet the defenition of a quality start (6 or more innings, 3 or less earned runs).
    On offense, Vermont's first four batterse accounted for most of the offense and didn't stop producing when a 5-1 lead turned into a 5-5 tie when Long Island was done batting in the seventh. Michael Martinez, Jeremy Goldschmeding and Justin Maxwell each had two RBI's and one run, and Francisco Guzman accounted for the game winning RBI with a sacrifice fly.
    The Lake Monsters took the 5-1 lead in the fifth with four runs scored. The Yankees aided the surge with mistakes of their own as three of four runs scored were aided with either an error or a passed ball.
    The big mistake was an error by SS Chris Kunda which loaded the bases with two outs. That brought up Martinez who earned his two RBI's with a single. Goldschmeding followed that with a two-RBI single of his own to give the Lake Monsters the four run lead.
    In the seventh, with Van Allen still in, Long Island had a four run inning of their own to tie the game. DH Kyle Larsen hit his seventh home run of the year and Brian Aragon took second on an error by RF Ryan DeLaughter - DeLaughter dropped a routine fly ball - then advanced on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice grounder. At that point Van Allen left while still in line for the win but Jeff Taylor couldn't hold the lead and Van Allen got a no decision.
    Taylor allowed three straight singles immediately, and suddenly the game was tied. Despite the poor outing - he allowed the two runs in just one third inning pitched - Taylor still got the win when Vermont took back the lead in bottom half of the inning.
    In that inning, Goldschmeding, who was 3-3 on the night, reached on a single and scored on Maxwell's triple, then Guzman got his RBI sacrifice fly, and Vermont had a 7-5 lead.
   Chris Lugo pitched well in the last two innings, allowing only one unearned run in the eighth. He was able to preserve the win with a perfect ninth in which he struck out the side.
    Vermont will resume their series with Long Island on Wednesday night as part of their "Pretty in Pink" promotion which will raise funds for and awareness of breast cancer.

                          R    H     E
Long Island      6     11    1
Vermont           7     10    3

Long Island
Hitting

Curtis LF            1-4, R, K
Fortenberry RF   1-3, BB
Hilligoss 3B         1-2, K, RBI
   O'Brien-a         1-1, R
Larsen DH          3-4, R, HR, 2RBI
Aragon CF         0-4, R, 3K
Carvelli C           1-3, K, RBI
Smith 1B            1-4, R, K
Pino 2B              1-4, R, K
Kunda SS           0-2
   Poterson-b      1-2, R, K, RBI

a-replaced Hilligoss in the bot 7th
b-hit for Kunda in the 7th

Pitching

Castillo            4IP, 5R, ER, 7H, 3K, 3BB
Keadle             2IP, H, 2K, BB
Trubee (L)       2IP, 2R, 2ER, 2H, BB

Vermont
Hitting

Martinez 3B            1-5, R, 2RBI
Goldschmeding SS  3-3, R, 2B, BB, 2RBI
Maxwell CF            2-3, R, 3B, BB, 2RBI
Guzman LF             0-3, 3K, RBI
McMillan 1B          1-3, BB
DeLaughter RF      1-4, R, K
German C               0-3, R, BB
Castro DH              1-3, BB
Martinez 2B           1-4, 2R

Pitching

Van Allen                6.2IP, 3R, 2ER, 6H, 3K, BB, HR
Taylor (W)              .1IP, 2R, ER, 3H, K
Lugo (S)                  2IP, R, 2H, 5K

Sorry, no box score or recap available for this game.

As your #1 source for Vermont Lake Monsters news, box scores, and recaps, I know you're disappointed when minor glitches in our system affect the layout and readability of this site. Our web sites managers are currently working around the clock to correct the present problems and ensure that future box scores and recaps will be in a more readable format. Keep checking back for more updates - later this week a feature piece will be published, giving you an inside look at the experience of attending a game at Centennial Field. Go Lake Monsters!