June 15, 2019: Long Ball Lifts Lake Monsters Over ValleyCats

BURLINGTON, VT- The Tri-City ValleyCats (0-2, 0-2) dropped their second straight contest to open up the 2019 season Saturday evening, with the Vermont Lake Monsters (2-0, 2-0) cementing a two-game sweep between the Stedler Divsion rivals. Vermont edged out a 4-1 victory at Centennial Field on the strength of a pair of home runs, giving them just their fourth 2-0 start in franchise history. 
 The home team used the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead, with centerfielder Kevin Richards taking a ball deep to right field. The ValleyCats would answer in the following frame, with catcher Juanrael Paulino launching a sacrifice fly to left to send in first baseman Joe Perez from third. The former second round pick positioned himself to score the team's first run of the 2019 campaign by notching his first career minor league triple in the previous at-bat. 
Vermont starting pitcher Michael Murray (1-0) cruised his way to victory, striking out six without walking a batter in five innings on the mound. Left-hander Josh Reagan moved things along with five strikeouts in three scoreless innings, while Vermont's Jose Mora picked up his first save of the season by downing Tri-City in four batters in the ninth. 
Meanwhile, the Lake Monsters' Jordan Diaz put up an insurance run with a solo shot to center field in the home half of the sixth, while Richards struck again with a line drive double to left to place Nick Ward for the second time and give the game it's final score. 
Second-year ValleyCat Juan Pablo Lopez (0-1) took the loss on the mound, allowing all three earned runs in five and two-thirds innings of play, despite striking out seven batters and walking just one. Former Cuban World Cup competitor Franny Cobos used the loss to make his debut for the 'Cats, walking a pair and striking out as many while allowing an unearned run in the game's final two and one-third innings. 
Following the loss, the ValleyCats will return to Troy in search of their first win of the 2019 season in their home opener on Sunday evening. The defending New York-Penn League champions will welcome in-state rival Staten Island Yankees to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium to begin a two game home stand. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m., with a championship celebration taking place prior to the start of the game.