Friday, August 14, 2015
at Centennial Field, Burlington, VT
It's pretty safe to say, that Friday night's 9th inning meltdown was one of the worst losses in Connecticut Tigers' history.
The Tigers were flying high after Monday night's blowout of the Auburn Doubledays in Norwich. The team was in great shape heading into a three game series against Stedler Division basement dwellers the Vermont Lake Monsters in Vermont. Well, the Tigers have come back to earth with a thud and are now in danger of falling into the cellar themselves.
The Tigers desperately needed a win Friday night after two uninspired losses in Vermont on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday's Tiger starter Sandy Baez was up to the challenge and pitched his heart out (easily his best start as a Tiger.) Untouchable Tiger reliever Drew Smith was his usual great self (pitching a scoreless 7th inning.)
However, then things started to fall apart. Hard throwing but extremely erratic Tiger reliever Gerson Moreno almost gave the game to Vermont in the 8th but somehow managed to escape with giving up a run. Then closer Jake Shull came in for the 9th and threw the game away, giving up a walk and three hits (including a game winning three run homer to Chris Iriart of Vermont.)
This loss is a brutal one and could send the Tigers reeling out of contention. It leaves one wondering why Drew Smith is not in there closing games out (especially a pivotal one like Friday's game.) These decisions are most likely out of manager Mike Rabelo's hands but the idea is to win, isn't it?
If the Tigers do come up short in 2015, people will always look back to Friday's loss in Vermont (the loss sort of brings to mind Logan Hoch on the final day of the 2010 season.)
Connecticut Tigers (25-26) 3
at Vermont Lake Monsters (25-28) 4
WP-Vermont: Darwin Frias (1-0, 3.60)
LP-TIGERS: Jake Shull (0-3, 3.86)
HR-Vermont: Chris Iriart (4) Game Winner
Attendance (2741)
Time (2:43)
TIGERS Record (25-26)
Third Place-Stedler Division (3.0 GB first place Tri-City, 2.5 GB second place Lowell)
Wild Card-Third Place tie with Aberdeen (3.0 GB State College, 2.5 GB second place Lowell)
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