Lake Monsters 6-24-13 Game Results

LAKE MONSTERS RELEASE

New York-Penn League Affiliate of the Oakland Athletics

LOWELL WINS RAIN-SHORTENED GAME 1-0 AT VERMONT MONDAY

Spinners score only run of six-inning game in third inning on a Tzu-Wei Lin RBI infield single

Just the 5th rain-shortened game at Centennial Field in the Lake Monsters 20-year history

Lake Monsters (3-5) will wrap up 6-game homestand on Tuesday vs. Lowell at 7:05 pm

Boxscore

BURLINGTON, VT --- Mario Alcantara tossed five scoreless innings and Tzu-Wei Lin's RBI infield single accounted for the only run in a six-inning, rain-shortened 1-0 victory for the Lowell Spinners in New York-Penn League action Monday night at historic Centennial Field.

The Spinners scored the only run of the game in the third off Vermont reliever Matt Stalcup, who walked the first two batters he faced in the inning. After a sacrifice bunt from Cleuluis Rondon, Lin bounced a grounder back up the middle for the infield single that scored Nick Moore. Stalcup worked out of further trouble in the inning and also got out of a second and third with one-out jam in the fourth by striking out Moore and Williams Jerez.

But the Lake Monsters offense was unable to get anything going against Alcantara, who gave up just two hits with two walks and four strikeouts over the four scoreless innings. B.J. Boyd had a one-out double in the first and Michael Soto a one-out double in the fourth for Vermont's only two hits.

Lowell reliever Taylor Grover retired the side in order, including a pair of strikeouts, in the bottom of the sixth before the game was halted by the umpires due to a thunderstorm that hit Centennial just as the inning was ending. It was just the fifth game at Centennial Field in Lake Monsters history to be shortened by rain (or fog) and the first Vermont loss in a shortened game at home since July 23, 1996 (2-1 loss to Lowell).

Vermont and Lowell will wrap up the three-game series and the Lake Monsters six-game homestand on Tuesday starting at 7:05 pm. All fans attending Tuesday's game will receive a free 2013 Vermont Lake Monsters team photo courtesy of Catamount Color.

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Lake Monsters Press Release 6-22-2013 Game Results

8-RUN INNING LEADS TIGERS TO 8-4 WIN OVER VERMONT SATURDAY

Connecticut snapped 0-0 tie with 8 runs on 5 hits in 7th inning ... Vermont scored all 4 of its runs in 9th

Michael Soto, Tyler Marincov and Reynaldo Mateo RBI doubles in 9th ... Vermont hosts Lowell Sunday

Boxscore

BURLINGTON, VT --- The Connecticut Tigers snapped a scoreless tie with eight runs in the top of the seventh inning to pick up their first win of the season with an 8-4 victory over the Vermont Lake Monsters in New York-Penn League action Saturday evening at historic Centennial Field.

Winless in their first four games and having scored just three runs in their first 42 innings, the Tigers sent 11 batters to the plate in the seventh inning off Vermont relievers Taylor Massey and Fernand Cruzado. Massey (0-1) did not retire any of the four batters he faced, allowing a double and three walks, while Cruzado gave up a two-run double to Dominic Ficociello and a three-run homer to Duncan McAlpine that capped the eight-run inning.

Vermont had just three hits over the first eight innnings before finally putting some offense together in the bottom of the ninth with four runs on four hits off Tigers pitcher Ryan Beck. Michael Soto, Tyler Marincov and Reynaldo Mateo each had an RBI double in the inning before Andrew Harrison came on in relief of Beck to retire the final two batters of the game.

Lake Monsters starter Gregory Paulino gave up just three hits with one walk and three strikeouts over six scoreless innings in his second start of the year, while Tigers starter Alex Phillips allowed just two hits with two walks and three strikeouts over five innings for a no-decision. Reliever Zac Reininger (1-0) tossed two scoreless innings to pick up the victory.

Patrick Leyland, Javier Azcona and Ficociello each had two hits for Connecticut (1-4), while Soto and Marincov two hits apiece for Vermont (2-4). 

The Lake Monsters homestand continues with the first of a three-game series against the Lowell Spinners, the NY-Penn League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, at Centennial on Sunday beginning at 5:05 pm. It is the first of three "Hot Dog Heavens" with 25-cent hot dogs on sale all game long.

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Time to play ball!  The Vermont Lake Monsters returned to Centennial Field for the 2013 Home Opener on Thursday night.  There were plenty of changes for the Monsters fans to notice.  Everything from major renovations to the ballpark, right down to these new Champ dolls.

The first and most obvious change to most will be the new grandstand seating which has replaced the concrete General Admission section.  This also includes numbered seating so be sure to take note of where your seats are when purchasing your tickets.  I did hear one group talking about how they missed that change so when they purchased tickets at separate times, they ended up with seats in various locations.

Another exciting seating addition is the new Field Level Seating.  A new section of General Admission bleachers have been added in front of the third base grandstand seating.  These are planned to be replaced in the future with the franchise's first Box Seats.  Along side of these seats, at the end of the visitors' dugout is the pair of recliners reserved for the winners of the "Best Seats In The House" promotion.

Also, for our the baseball history enthusiasts like myself, one addition includes part of a Major League Baseball stadium.  The section of Field Level Seating directly behind home plate are seats that have been moved here from Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland (Home of the Baltimore Orioles)

As you would expect, adding seats on the same level as the field has made some considerable changes to the playing field.  Many of these are a welcome sight to the players.  A long standing issue for catchers playing at Centennial Field has been the foul territory behind home plate.  As it stood before, the distance from the plate to the wall directly behind it was equal to the distance from the plate to the pitcher.  This presented a challenge for the catchers when chasing after a wild pitch for example.  Now, the fence behind the plate has decreased the distance so that it is now on par with other ballparks.

The dugouts have also undergone upgrades in the off-season.  In years prior, the teams could not all sit in the dugout at the same time.  Thanks to the upgrades, not only is there enough room for the team, except for the pitchers who are out in the new bullpen behind the right field wall, but even the bat boys & bat girls can sit with the team instead of chairs at the end.  Champ is sure enjoying the added dance space this provides for him as well.  We'll have to see if new roof provides any sound protection for the visiting teams against the stumping of those big blue shoes.

The left fielders will also be noticing some changes.  The left field wall has been moved in closer to the plate.  There is a chance that this change is partly responsible for Special Olympics Vermont earning their first $100 of the season from the Home Runs for Charity promotion.  The first Lake Monsters hit of the 2013 home season was a 1-run homer by third-baseman Chad Pinder.

The final change to the playing field was the wall along the third base foul line. The fence has been moved closer all along there.  This has resulted in a great increase in space along the barbecue area, although the guy with the jackhammer has a little less room to work in (don't worry, the sponsor did not lose out, the billboard was just reoriented).

Seems as though all of the renovations may be working for the team.  After an unfortunate 0-3 start on the road, they came home to Centennial Field and defeated the Connecticut Tigers (Detroit Tigers affiliate) with a score of 5-1.

What do you all think of the renovations?  Please leave a comment below and let us know.  Thank you everyone.

See you at the ballpark!