Spinners Can't Climb Back Twice in Loss, 9-4
June 26, 2013 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
TROY, NY - The Lowell Spinners overcame a three-run deficit once but could not do so twice, falling to the Tri-City ValleyCats in the first of a two-game series, 9-4, at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium Wednesday night.
Lowell (4-4) threatened in the top half of the first inning. After Tzu-Wei Lin grounded out to leadoff the game, Manuel Margot singled and promptly stole second. Kevin Mager followed with a single to left-center but Margot was thrown out trying to score on a strong relay by Ryan Dineen, quelling the threat.
Tri-City (8-2) wasted no time in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on a two-out double by Dan Gulbransen to score James Ramsey and give the ValleyCats an early 1-0 lead.
The ValleyCats would extend the lead in the third inning, with Gulbransen again keying the offense. Tony Kemp led off the inning with a perfect bunt single down the third base line, but was erased trying to steal second for the innings second out. Conrad Gregor however singled through the hole at second and Gulbransen followed with a two-run home run to extend the lead to 3-0.
The Spinners cut into the lead in the fourth, but left a chance on the bases. Kendrick Perkins led off the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a one-out single by Jake Romanski. Nick Moore followed with a single to load the bases and a David Sopilka sacrifice fly brought in the Spinners first run, but Cleuluis Rondon grounded into a force to end the inning.
Lowell tied the game up in the fifth inning against reliever Zach Morton with a two-out rally. Lin led off the inning with a single, but was wiped from the bases on a fielder's choice by Margot, who was caught stealing for the inning's second out. Mager worked a two-out walk and Perkins doubled to advance him to third. After Chan Moon couldn't handle Reed Gragnani's grounder, both men would score to tie the game at three.
The tie was short lived however as the ValleyCats plated three in the fifth against Matt Spalding and Chris Carpenter. Spalding issued back-to-back walks to lead off the inning, giving way to Carpenter. After striking out Gulbransen, the rehabbing right-hander hit a batter to load the bases and a passed ball brought in a run. After a strikeout, Ronnie Mitchell doubled to plate two, putting the ValleyCats ahead, 6-3.
The Spinners would plate a run in the sixth after a lead-off double by Moore started a rally. Margot would plate a run on a sacrifice fly but the Spinners would leave two on, down 6-4.
A two-out, three-run home run by Ramsay off Dylan Chavez in the eighth put the game out of reach for what would hold as a 9-4 final.
Despite the 10-hit performance, the Spinner offense would leave 10 men stranded, going just 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Lin, Perkins and Moore each had two hits and a double, while Margot and Sopilka picked up the Lowell RBI.
Simon Mercedes got the start for the Spinners, going the first four innings. He allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits and two walks without striking out a batter. Spalding (0-2, 13.50) walked both batters he would face, each of whom came around to score. Carpenter pitched an inning, striking out the side but allowing both inherited runners to score, as well as a run of his own. Kyle Martin was flawless for two innings, striking out one, while Chavez was tagged for three runs on three hits in one inning of work.
The Spinners look to split the series Thursday night when Jamie Callahan (1-0, 0.00) takes the mound for a 7:05 first pitch.
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