Lake Monsters Sweep Doubleheader Saturday

BURLINGTON, VT --- The Vermont Lake Monsters got strong outings from four different pitchers to sweep a doubleheader 3-0 and 2-1 from the Oneonta Tigers on Saturday night in New York-Penn League action at historic Centennial Field.

In the opener, Adrian Alaniz and Yunior Novoa combined on a four-hit shutout to help the Lake Monsters snap a three-game losing streak. Alaniz (1-0), who pitched four perfect innings last Monday in the Lake Monsters home opener, allowed just three hits with four strikeouts over five innings on Saturday to earn the win.

Novoa took over in the sixth inning and picked up his second save in three outings with Vermont, giving up one hit and striking two in two innings of work. Both Alaniz and Novoa, who were with the Lake Monsters on rehab assignments, are scheduled to return to Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday.

The Lake Monsters scored all three of their runs in the second inning on a two-run double from Francisco Soriano and a Sean Nicol sacrifice fly off Oneonta starter Gary Perinar (0-1). Soriano had two hits for Vermont in the opener, while J.R. Higley added a double and also had the Lake Monsters first triple of the season.

In the nightcap, Vermont got both of its runs in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run Ronnie LaBrie triple to straight away centerfield. The Tigers got their only run of the two games in the fifth inning on a Wade Gaynor sacrifice fly following back-to-back one-out singles that had put Oneonta runners on the corners.

Lake Monster starter Juan Jaime allowed just two hits with three walks and nine strikeouts over innings. In Vermont's nine games played this season, no Lake Monster starter has allowed more than four hits in a start and have held the opposing batters to just 25 hits in 39 1/3 innings combined.

Pat Lehman (1-0) tossed the final three innings to take the win in the nightcap, allowing one run on three htits with three strikeouts. Oneonta starter Mike LaLuna (0-1) allowed two runs on three hits with one walk and six stikeouts in his four innings to take the loss.

Jamie Johnson and Michael Rockett both had two hits for Oneonta (4-3) in the second game, while J.J. Sferra was 2-for-2 for the Lake Monsters.

Vermont (4-5) heads out on a six-game roadtrip to Tri-City and Hudson Valley before returning home for a three-game series against Hudson Valley beginning on July 4th at 4:05 p.m.