By Dylan Butler
Following an opening week which saw the Queens Kings finish in a first-place tie with the Staten Island Yankees with a 5-3 record, the team struggled last week, losing four of five after beating Auburn, 6-2, June 27.
After a pair of one-day trips to Hudson Valley to open the season, Queens had its first extended road trip last Wednesday and Thursday as the team jumped on the bus and headed to Burlington, Vt. to face the Vermont Expos.
In front of 3,589 at Centennial Field last Wednesday, the Expos dropped Queens, 8-0. Vermont starter Wes Chisnall allowed one hit though six innings as Vermont notched its third shutout of the season.
Chisnall gave up a leadoff hit to Shawn Pearson in the top of the first and the only other base runners reached first on two errors by Expos shortstop Eric Miller.
Errors at shortstop apparently were contagious as Kurt Keene from Queens also made two blunders, including a three-run throwing error with two outs in the second to give Vermont a 5-0 lead.
Expos catcher Greg Blum belted his first home run of the year, a two-run shot over the wall in left field in the fifth inning to put Vermont up 7-0.
Chris Mowday suffered the loss, allowing seven runs, four earned on nine hits in 4.1 innings pitched. Reliever Diegomar Markwell allowed one run on one hit.
Vermont swept the two-game set Thursday night with an 8-4 win in front of 2,978.
The Expos jumped ahead 3-0 in the first inning, highlighted by Blum
