Game 42 Recap: Blue Sox 3, Mountaineers 1

Christian Isbell hurled eight strong innings
in a tough loss. He struck out six. 

For the second straight night in a row, one inning doomed the Vermont Mountaineers.

Searching for a win to keep pace with the likes of Winnipesaukee and Keene, Vermont jumped ahead in the first frame, but the combination of a three-run second and strong pitching from the Valley Blue Sox resulted in a disappointing 3-1 loss.

The Mountaineers fell to 18-24 and sit tied with the Upper Valley Nighthawks for sixth place. They’re both a game out of fourth place, as Winnipesaukee rolled to a win over North Adams last night. Now, Vermont’s playoff fate will be decided on the last day of the season.

Monday’s scheduled doubleheader against the Nighthawks was to Tuesday due to rain. To make the playoffs, Vermont needs a combination of things to happen. If they sweep the doubleheader, Winnipesaukee needs to lose one of their last two games against either Valley or Mystic, as the Mountaineers hold the tiebreaker.

If Vermont splits the doubleheader, they’ll need both Keene and Winnipesaukee to lose all of their remaining games. The Swamp Bats play in Newport tonight. If Vermont is swept by Upper Valley, they’re officially eliminated from the playoffs.

For a 13-year-old franchise, just a year removed from their third championship in team history, sneaking in on the last day of the season is an unfamiliar situation. Vermont won the division in the regular season each of the past two years, securing home field advantage all the way through the league championship series. Now, they’re fighting to just get in, and would be playing much of the postseason on the road.

Sunday’s loss to the Blue Sox didn’t help their cause. Vermont starter Christian Isbell hurled eight innings, retiring nine of the last 10 batters he faced. However, a pair of walks and two hits in the third allowed Valley to take the lead for good.

A strong start from left-hander Greg Jacnewitz, paired with two innings apiece from reliever Conor Donovan and Sam Donko allowed the Blue Sox to hold Vermont in check. Jacnewitz gave up a two-out RBI single to Ryan Fineman in the first inning, but it was all the Mountaineers would manage.

Jacnewitz threw five innings, striking out six and scattering six hits. Donovan bridged the gap to the eighth with a pair of scoreless innings, striking out three and stranding a runner at third. Donko, finally, recorded his sixth save. He retired the first four batters he faced, then worked around a pair of baserunners in the ninth.

Trailing 1-0, the Blue Sox got to work in the second. After going 1-2-3 in the first, Chris Starch and Mark Grunberg each drew walks with one out. Zach Goldstein doubled in a run, and Kipp Moore poked a two-run single in the hole to break the tie.

Isbell would respond by allowing just three hits over the final six innings while striking out five, but Vermont’s woes with runners on base continued. They out-hit Valley, 8-6, but left eight runners on base. It was similar to Saturday’s loss to North Adams, where they stranded 12 runners in a one-run loss. Vermont’s average has dipped to .250 with runners in scoring position, a mark below the league average.

It was a tough loss, and it put’s considerable pressure on Tuesday’s doubleheader. Tonight, Mountaineers fans should tune in as Winnipesaukee visits Valley and Keene travels to Newport. Both games begin at 6:30 p.m. Vermont will be rooting for the home team in both matchups.