Pitchers Duel Does Not Favor Spinners, 2-1
Published on August 19, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
LOWELL, MASS. - With an early start Sunday afternoon, the Lowell Spinners and Hudson Valley Renegades forgot to wake up the bats as the two teams combined for just seven hits, as the Spinners came up short in the category that matters most, falling 2-1 in front of a record breaking crowd of 5,537.
Hudson Valley (39-20) got on the board in the first inning, taking advantage of a bit of wildness. Joey Rickard led off the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a wild pitch. A groundout advanced him to third and another, from Richie Shaffer, brought home Rickard to give the Renegades a 1-0 lead.
Offensively, that was it for the next six innings, as the two teams breezed through the game's first six innings in just about 45 minutes.
Lowell (28-31) finally broke through for a run in the seventh inning. Deven Marrero led off the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Dreily Guerrero. David Chester followed with an infield single, putting runners on the corners before a Mookie Betts shallow fly to center. Marrero tagged at third and would have been out on a strong throw home from Rickard, but Marrero came in standing, stepping over catcher Jake DePew to knot the score at one.
The Renegades answered however in the top half of the eighth inning, again taking advantage of Lowell walks. Francisco Taveras (4-2, 1.82) led off the inning with back-to-back walks. With the infield charging in, Charles Epperson swung away and popped out, leaving the runners at first and second, but a wild pitch did the job, advancing both men to scoring position. The Spinners opted to intentionally walk Rickard to load the bases, but Taveras couldn't locate to Tommy Coyle, walking the Renegades second baseman to give Hudson Valley a 2-1 lead. Tavaras struck out Shaffer and Zach Kapstein made a diving catch on a shallow fly by Ryan Dunn, but the damage was done.
The Spinners would threaten in the ninth inning, as Mike Miller led off the frame with a single to left-centerfield, but Marrero was unable to get a sacrifice bunt down, striking out, and Guerrero and David Chester were retired to end the game.
Justin Haley started and allowed one run on two hits and a walk, striking out two. Taveras went the next five, allowing the one run on one hit, walking and striking out four. Greg Larson gave the Spinners a chance in the ninth with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.
Miller led the Spinner offense, going 2-for-4, while Chester and Guerrero had the other Spinner this.
The team received a welcome visit from Brian Johnson just after first pitch, as the Red Sox 2012 first round pick was released from the hospital earlier in the day. Johnson was struck in the face by a line drive in Saturday's Futures at Fenway Game, breaking multiple orbital bones in his face.
In addition, the Spinners' honored catcher J.T. Watkins in a pre-game ceremony, as the catcher played in his final game before leaving to start his service in the United States Army. Watkins went 0-for-3 in his season finale, making a heads up defensive play backing up first base and turning an error into an out in the top of the ninth.
The Spinners look to avoid the series sweep when Mike Augliera (0-2, 5.81) gets the ball for a 7:05 first pitch on Electronics Giveaway Night, presented by Sal's Pizza!
New York-Penn League Stories from August 19, 2012
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- Birds' Bats Silenced in Connecticut - Aberdeen IronBirds
- Renegades Rebuff Spinners 2-1 - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Tigers Shut out IronBirds - Norwich Sea Unicorns
- Spinners Set Franchise Record for Tickets Sold Sunday - Lowell Spinners
- State College Spikes Game Notes - August 19 at Williamsport - State College Spikes
- Pitchers Duel Does Not Favor Spinners, 2-1 - Lowell Spinners
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