Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short
August 31, 2014 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
NORWICH, CONN. - With a chance to play spoiler in the race for the New York-Penn League's final playoff spot, the Lowell Spinners came up empty, leaving the tying run on first base as their ninth inning rally fell short and they dropped their second straight game, falling to the Connecticut Tigers, 5-3, Sunday evening at Dodd Stadium.
Lowell (37-37) got on the board right out of the gate. Bryan Hudson led off the game with a single and Raymel Flores followed with a bunt single of his own. After a Mauricio Dubon groundout moved both men into scoring position, Jordan Betts walked to load the bases. Nick Moore got the Spinners on the board with a sacrifice fly and a Joseph Monge single plated Flores to stake Jeffry Fernandez to a 2-0 lead.
Connecticut (41-34) responded right back in the bottom half of the inning. Fernandez hit Will Maddox to lead off the inning and Brett Pirtle followed with a single to put the Tigers in business. After Fernandez battled back for two quick outs, Kasey Coffman delivered a two-out single to plate Maddox. An error by Moore loaded the bases and Ben Verlander worked a walk to even the score a two.
The Tigers jumped ahead in the fourth with Verlander getting the inning started with a single. Jacob Kapstein followed with a two-run blast to right field to give Connecticut a 4-2 lead.
After the Tigers added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single by Joey Pankake, the Lowell offense staged a late charge in the ninth after two quick outs. Alixon Suarez doubled to left and came around to score on an RBI single by Hudson. Flores followed with a single of his own, giving the Spinners runners on the corners, but Dubon took a third strike to end the game.
Hudson paced the Spinners offense atop the line-up, reaching base four times with three hits and a walk, adding a stolen base, RBI and run scored. Flores also had two hits as the duo combined to go 5-for-9 atop the Lowell line-up.
Fernandez (0-3, 5.30) started and worked the first five innings. He was charged with the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits, two walks and a hit batter. He struck out one. Williams Jerez closed out the game for the Spinners with three innings of relief. He allowed one run on six hits striking out two.
With the win, the Tigers now lead the Wild Card race and can clinch a playoff spot with a win Monday evening. The Spinners will be aiming to finish the season with a win and their second straight winning record, something that has not happened since the 2008-2009 seasons. Kevin McAvoy (0-2, 2.13) and his 15 inning scoreless streak get the ball for a 7:05 first pitch, with Karsten Whitson (0-1, 6.75) scheduled to follow with two innings of his own.
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