Spinners Complete Suspended Game with Win, 5-3
August 16, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
LOWELL, MASS. - After Mother Nature brought a halt to Saturday's game with one out in the top of the fourth, the Lowell Spinners and Tri-City ValleyCats completed their battle for first place, with the Spinners holding off the ValleyCats for a 5-3 win Sunday afternoon at LeLacheur Park.
The win jumps the Spinners past the ValleyCats into sole possession of first place in the Stedler Division.
In Saturday's action, after a 26 minute delay prior to the game's first pitch, Rick Porcello took the mound for a Major League Rehab Assignment for the Spinners. After 3.2 scoreless innings, lightning came to delay the game and 33 minutes later after a barrage of rain Saturday's game between the Tri-City ValleyCats and Spinners was suspended as it stood.
Lowell (30-25) broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with a four run outburst, taking advantage of a pair of Tri-City errors. After Luis Alexander Basabe walk to lead off the inning, Sean Coyle doubled down the third base line. Andrew Benintendi grounded out to a pulled-in infield before a Victor Acosta sacrifice fly plated Basabe to give the Spinners a lead. Josh Ockimey brought in another run with a single to left and Chad De La Guerra scored when Tate Matheny's hot shot went through the legs of Dexture McCall at first base. With Matheny attempting to steal second, Anthony Hermelyn's throw sailed high, scoring Ockimey to make it 4-0 Lowell.
Following the final out of the fourth inning on Sunday, the Spinners would extend their lead by a run when Basabe came around to score on another ValleyCats error.
Tri-City (29-25) got on the board in the fifth inning when Pat Porter led off the inning with a solo home run to right, cutting the Lowell lead to 5-1.
The ValleyCats would get another run in the seventh after the first three batters of the inning reached base, culminating with Porter's RBI double. Kent buckled down however to pick up three straight outs to preserve the 5-2 lead.
Tri-City brought the winning run to the plate in the form of Brooks Marlow, with two on and two out in the ninth, but Poyner got Marlow to ground to second to end the game.
Porcello breezed through 3.2 innings, allowing the three hits but inducing two doubleplays. He threw 26 of his 36 pitches for strikes before the lightning arrived. Kent (6-0, 1.46) picked up the win, tying the franchise record for consecutive victories (6) previously set by Jordan Craft in 2007. He allowed two runs on four hits, striking out one over 3.1 innings. Poyner picked up his team leading seventh save of the season, allowing a run on four hits. He struck out three.
Three Spinners had multi-hit games, led by Benintendi, who extended his hitting streak to nine games. De La Guerra and Ockimey each had two-hit games as well in the win.
The two teams will take a 30 minute break to re-charge and cool down before Sunday's regularly scheduled game gets underway. Jose Almonte (2-2, 4.15) gets the ball for the Spinners in what will be a seven-inning game.
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