Benintendi Homers for Third Time in Four Games But Spinners Fall, 5-4
July 22, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
LOWELL, MASS. - Andrew Benintendi hit his third home run in four games and the Spinners had five extra-base hits but it was not enough as Lowell fell to the Tri-City ValleyCats, 5-4, Wednesday afternoon at LeLacheur Park.
Lowell (17-15) jumped out to a second inning lead after a one-out Chad De La Guerra double set the table. Josh Ockimey brought him home with a two-out single to give Lowell a 1-0 lead.
Tri-City (17-15) evened the score in the third with a little two out rally. After two quick outs, Antonio Nunez singled to center and Bryan Muniz followed with a double to the left-centerfield gap to pull things even at one.
The ValleyCats would take the lead in the fourth, taking advantage of a big two-run error by De La Guerra. After a hit-batter sandwiched between a pair of outs, Richard Gonzalez doubled home a run to give the ValleyCats a 2-1 lead. After another hit-batter a wild pitch moved both into scoring position before De La Guerra's throw was wild, allowing both to score and give Tri-City a 4-1 lead.
The Spinners would get a run back in the bottom half of the inning after Tate Matheny led off the frame with a double. A one-out single by Tucker Tubbs scored Matheny to cut the lead in half.
Lowell would add a run in the fifth on a two-out solo home run by Andrew Benintendi but the ValleyCats answered with a run of their own in the seventh to take a 5-3 lead.
The Spinners would again get a run back in the bottom half of the seventh on back-to-back doubles by Jhon Nunez and Luis Alexander Basabe but Basabe was caught trying to steal third for the inning's third out as the ValleyCats clung to a one-run lead.
Lowell would threaten in the eighth, but left runners on the corners, and put Jeremy Rivera on second with one out in the ninth but he would get no closer as the Spinners fell, 5-4.
The Spinners had five extra-base hits, led by Benintendi's third home run in four games. De La Guerra picked up his team leading eighth double, while Basabe collected his team-best 16th RBI.
Javier Rodriguez (0-2, 6.39) started for the Spinners, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits. He struck out three and walked one. Daniel Gonezalez allowed a run in 2.2 innings, walking three and striking out three, while Danny Zandona went 2.1 scoreless, allowing three hits while striking out two, to give the Spinners a chance at the comeback.
The two-team fell back into a tie for first in the Stedler Division and look to break the tie when they conclude the three-game set Thursday night at LeLacheur Park. Luis Ramos (1-1, 4.91) gets the ball for a 7:05 first pitch on Lowell Lock Monsters Night with Keith Aucoin Bobble Heads for the first 1,000 fans.
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