Groshans Picks up First Pro HR in Victory over Brooklyn
June 30, 2019 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Going into the seventh inning, the Lowell Spinners (11-4), proud affiliate of the 2018 World Champion Boston Red Sox, were being shutout for the first time all season, and trailed the Brooklyn Cyclones (9-6), affiliate of the New York Mets, 3-0.
The Spinners were able to return the favor to the Cyclones, pulling off a comeback victory of their own by a final score of 6-3 at MCU Park, thanks to a six-run seventh inning thanks to some defensive misplays and some timely hitting.
It all started when Antoni Flores, and Nick Decker opened the inning with two singles. Ricardo Cubillan - who was playing his fourth position since joining the Spinners on June 17 - followed with a bunt down the third base line.
It was fielded by Frank Valentino, who picked up and threw it over the head of his first baseman Gavin Garay, scoring Flores second and sending Decker to second, cutting Brooklyn's lead to 3-1. Cubillan, and Decker advanced to second and third respectively on the error.
After Jecorrah Arnold followed with a strikeout, Valentino was removed in favor of reliever Justin Lasko. The first batter Lasko faced was Xavier Legrant, and he made him pay - reaching on a fielder's choice, that scored both Decker and Cubillan and Decker and helped Legrant reach second base, tying the game at 3-3.
After Gilberto Jimenez grounded out, advancing Legrant to third, Wil Dalton was hit by a pitch, putting runners at the corners with two outs. Jaxx Groshans followed Dalton, and he completed the Spinners comeback, lauching his first professional home run - a three-run bomb shot - over the scoreboard, giving Lowell a 6-3 lead.
The Cyclones would get one back in the bottom of the ninth, making it 6-4, but that's where the scoring would stop. The rest of Brooklyn's offense came exclusively from Wilmer Reyes, who put the Cyclones up 2-0 in the bottom of the second on a two-run home run and gave them a three-run lead in his next at-bat with a solo home run.
Ryan Zeferjahn, who was making his professional debut, got the start for the Spinners, but only went one inning - allowing one hit, but striking out three.
The win went to Kelvin Sanchez - his first - who went five innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Miguel Suero picked up the save, going three innings, allowing one run on one hit with two strikeouts and a walk.
Lowell is back home on Monday, when the Spinners open up their first six-game homestand of the 2019 season with a three-game set with second-place Stedler Division-foe Vermont Lake Monsters, affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. First pitch on Monday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
The Lowell Spinners, proud affiliate of the 2018 World Champion Boston Red Sox, offer Season Ticket Packages, Mini-Plans, Group Sales, and Single Game Tickets.
For more information, please visit: http://www.milb.com/lowell or call (978) 805-5124 for more information.
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