Spinners Can't Hold Lead, Lose in 11
June 20, 2013 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
LOWELL, MASS. - The Lowell Spinners jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, once again receiving five scoreless innings from their starting pitcher, but the team couldn't hold on as the Tri-City ValleyCats took advantage of walks and errors to hand the Spinners their first defeat, 8-5 in 11 innings.
Lowell (2-1) once again jumped out to an early lead, plating two in the first inning. Forrestt Allday led off the bottom half of the inning with a single up the middle, advancing to second on a single to the hole at short by Manuel Margot. A Kevin Mager single scored Allday, though Mager was cut down trying to extend it to a double. After ball four to Kendrick Perkins skipped past the catcher, Margot came around to score before the ValleyCats could escape the inning.
The Spinners extended the lead in the fifth inning, as Allday once again led off the inning with a single to get things started. After a wayward pick-off attempt by catcher Luis Alvarez, Allday advanced to second where he was replaced by a pinch runner. Mager once again came through with a one-out single, scoring pinch-runner Williams Jerez. A fielding error advanced Mager to second and Nick Moore brought him home with a single up the middle. A Reed Gragnani sacrifice fly capped the scoring, putting the Spinners ahead, 5-0.
Tri-City (4-0) began chipping away in the eighth against Jack McGeary. After a one-out single and a walk, Ryan Dineen chopped a dribbler down the first base line. McGeary attempted to flip the ball with his glove to first but it squirted loose allowing the first run to score. An infield single loaded the bases and McGeary walked in a run before being replaced by Dylan Chavez. A lead-off walk by Chavez brought in another run, bringing the ValleyCats within two, 5-3.
Chavez ran into additional trouble in the ninth and the ValleyCats tied things up. After a leadoff single when Cleuluis Rondon slipped fielding a ball deep in the hole, a wild pitch advanced the runner to second. A walk and a bunt single loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly cut the Spinners lead to one. A groundout tied the game before Chavez escaped to give the Spinners a chance in the bottom of the ninth.
The Spinners threatened in the bottom half of the ninth, as Mager delivered a two-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but that was as close as they would come.
Tri-City would take their first lead of the game in the 11th on just one hit, capitalizing on two Spinners errors as Conrad Gregor delivered the crucial 2-run single to put the game out of reach, 8-5.
Mager led the Spinners offensively with a 4-for-5 night, delivering two RBI. Moore and Allday each added two hits, while Margot and Gagnani each had one. The Spinners would record just one hit after their three-run fifth inning.
Simon Mercedes started for the Spinners throwing five scoreless, the third Spinners starter to do so this season. He allowed just three hits, striking out two while walking two. Chris Carpenter, in his second rehab appearance for the team, allowed one hit in two scoreless innings. McGeary was charged with three runs in two-thirds of an inning, while Chavez was charged with two in 1.1. Each walked two batters without striking out a batter. Matt Spalding (0-1, 4.50) was charged with the loss, allowing three runs on one hit, striking out three.
The two teams meet again Friday evening at LeLacheur Park when Jamie Callahan makes his New York-Penn League debut. It's a Friday Fireworks Night, presented by Coca-Cola, and the first 1,000 fans will receive a Kendrick Perkins Poster.
New York-Penn League Stories from June 20, 2013
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- Spikes vs. Doubledays - Game Notes - June 20, 2013 - State College Spikes
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